Museum director tries to buy artwork by 3-year-old at Scicli show

The exhibition '900 Zero 99' at QUAM (Quadrerie del Monastero) in Scicli, Ragusa, pairs works by 20th-century Italian masters such as Carla Accardi, Mario Schifano, Jannis Kounellis, Afro, Pietro Consagra, Franco Angeli, and Giacomo Balla with drawings by children aged 3 to 7, selected for their elective affinity or originality. Curated by Antonio Sarnari and Carla Ricevuto, the show challenges the cliché that some artworks could have been made by a child. According to the museum, works by Ludovica (3) are regularly mistaken for Schifano's, and Marta's for Kounellis's, with visitors making million-euro valuations for pieces actually created in a kindergarten. The director of an American museum reportedly attempted to purchase a work but was told it was not for sale because the 3-year-old author could not sign a contract. The installation is housed in a 17th-century refectory, open until mid-September with free admission, and includes a drawing area for children. The exhibition is part of a broader cultural tourism initiative on the island.