Perth Voice Interactive

ANOTHER artwork by Chinese sculptor Chen Wen Ling has been damaged by Perth’s philistine denizens.

On New Year’s Eve delinquents tore the $58,000 sculpture free from its pricey plinth at the corner of Bulwer and Vincent Streets.

They left the sculpture languishing on the grass, where Vincent council staff retrieved it. It’s now in storage at the council depot, awaiting reattachment.

On January 2 council staff discovered damage to another piece of public art, with the antique bed at the corner of Beaufort and Clarence Streets having the foot end turned away and other cast iron bits cracked.

“It’s just idiotic,” says mayor John Carey. “It happened on New Year’s Eve so clearly someone was intoxicated, but it is disappointing.

“It just shows a lack of respect to the local community.

“I am tired of drunken idiots vandalising our city. We are investing so much in renewing our town centres and streets and it’s a complete lack of respect for the people who live here.

“Unfortunately it’s also repeated behaviour, with trees often smashed or destroyed. I’ve had enough.”

Mr Carey says the council is reviewing Beaufort Street’s CCTV in order to identify the culprits.

In 2012 two men were convicted for stealing another of Chen’s red men statues from Sculpture by the Sea, sawing it off at the feet and carting it away.

by DAVID BELL