He 's been photographed dropping vases before -- but that does n't mean it 's OK for just anyone to do it . Ai Weiwei has made a name for himself by not only creating visually arresting and thought-provoking art , but for his uncompromising activism in opposition to the Chinese government . Ai was on the receiving end of a protest this weekend when a local Miami artist smashed a `` color basis '' vase valued at $ 1 million , part of the artist 's `` According to what ? '' exhibition at the Perez Art Museum Miami ( PAMM ) in the city . The exhibition also included photographs of the Chinese artist dropping what appears to be a Han Dynasty urn . Maximo Caminero , a Miami-based artist , was named in a police affidavit as the defendant . He told an officer that his act was a protest against the gallery 's decision to only display international art . The police report states that Caminero picked up the vase before being advised to put it down by a museum official . He then dropped it `` in protest . '' He was charged with criminal mischief . Questionable protest . Ai , meanwhile , told CNN that he did n't have `` much reaction '' to the news , but said that he thought that a line should be drawn when it came to damaging public or private property as part of a protest . `` I ca n't have a show in Beijing but I can not go to museums to break work in Beijing , '' he said in a phone interview . `` My work is basically forbidden to be shown in China ... The protest itself may be valid but to damage somebody 's work to do that is questionable . '' Ai said that he considered his work -- specifically the triptych which shows him dropping an antique urn -- to be `` very different . '' `` My work belongs to me , it does n't belong to the public and also it does n't [ belong to ] somebody else . '' He said he believes he has been contacted by the gallery but he is n't taking the loss too seriously . `` I do n't really care much and actually my work is often damaged in different shows , because it 's fragile , so normally I do n't take these things too highly . Damage is damage , you know . If they have insurance , maybe it will be covered . '' Art in China : On script and cutting edge ? Condemnation . The museum issued a statement concerning the incident , condemning Caminero 's act . `` Although the museum ca n't speak directly to intentions , evidence suggests that this was a premeditated act , '' a PAMM statement read . `` As an art museum dedicated to celebrating modern and contemporary artists from within our community and around the world , we have the highest respect for freedom of expression , but this destructive act is vandalism and disrespectful to another artist and his work , to Perez Art Museum Miami , and to our community . '' Caminero told the Miami New Times that `` it was a spontaneous protest '' and that he `` lifted the vase and let it smash on the floor like Weiwei did in his picture then waited for authorities peacefully and never resisted punishment . '' Ai Weiwei rocks out against detention .
Prominent Chinese artist 's work destroyed in Miami Beach . Defendant says he destroyed Ai Weiwei 's $ 1 million vase as ` ` a spontaneous protest '' Ai has previously destroyed works as part of his work . But he says a line needs to be crossed when work is destroyed as part of a protest .