Ai Weiwei's work was allegedly destroyed by Vaclav Pisvejc, who is known for targeting works of art as part of his "vandalism" practice.

In a security video posted on Ai’s Instagram after the incident, a man identified as 57-year-old Vaclav Pisvejc from the Czech Republic is seen theatrically toppling the artist’s “Porcelain Cube” (2009) and then holding a fragment of the artwork over his head before four security guards tackle him to the ground.

The man behind the episode, at a reception for Mr. Ai’s new exhibition in Bologna, has targeted artists before, a museum spokesman said.

The man who destroyed the blue-and-white “Porcelain Cube” sculpture in Bologna is apparently well known in the art world for wreaking havoc.

A notorious vandal destroyed a sculpture by contemporary Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei during an exhibition opening in Bologna, Italy. CCTV footage posted on the artist’s Instagram account documented a man pushing the sculpture over,