The Guggenheim Bilbao, architect Frank Gehry's masteriece of twisted titanium, has been dulled by allegations of financial mismanagement, The Guardian reports. Among its woes: The museum's former financial director is on trial for embezzling 500,000 euros over the last decade; a misjudged currency deal lost the institution another seven million euros; and there have accusations that the museum paid too much for pieces in its current collection, such as a Jeff Koons’ puppy sculpture. The museum’s director, Juan Ignacio Vidarte, said the sudden coverage of the museum's troubles was part of a ploy by opposition parties before upcoming elections to make the Basque government look bad. The opposition is looking for an excuse to take greater control of the museum, he said, which is the only museum in Basque country that does not run on public funds.
Read it at The Guardian
