An art installation celebrating Mozart’s 270th birthday in Salzburg has been hit by a wave of thefts, with 210 of its 320 golden statues disappearing in just one month.
The exhibition opened across Salzburg, Austria, on July 15, placing miniature Mozart figures at locations around the city, including near his former home and garden. Only 110 statues now remain.
Artist Ottmar Hörl believes the scale of the disappearances suggests more than tourists simply taking souvenirs and has described the situation as possible “organized theft.”
Each polymer figure stands less than 20 inches tall and depicts Mozart alongside his dog, Pimperl. Hörl said the design was intended to present the composer as a human figure rather than another traditional monument.
Visitors would eventually have been able to purchase the statues legally for around €100 ($114) each once the exhibition ended.
Organizers had kept replacement figures in reserve, anticipating that some might disappear, but the number stolen quickly exceeded expectations. Additional statues cannot immediately be produced because the manufacturer is currently unavailable.
Despite losing nearly two-thirds of the installation, the exhibition will continue, with the remaining Mozart statues staying on display around Salzburg until August 30.