Deterioration of the Orlinski deer in Servon: an arrest but no prosecution

This bright red deer signed by the famous artist Richard Orlinski has marked the Eden 2 shopping area in Servon since 2019. Its value was estimated at 204,000 euros. However, on January 14 around 9 p.m., four young people were seen getting too close to it, some climbing on it, which caused the sculpture to fall on its right side.

Following the complaint from the Eden shopping center, an investigation was opened and police officers from the Melun Val de Seine police district combed everything. Viewing the shopping center’s video surveillance confirmed the presence of four young people heckling on the work of art. Investigation in schools in the area and in businesses… One of them was able to be identified: it is a minor aged sixteen, originally from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (Val-de- Marl). Arrested, placed in police custody and questioned, he denied any damage to the sculpture, although he appeared clearly on the video surveillance images.

153,000 euros in repairs

The Créteil public prosecutor’s office, where his place of residence falls, issued its opinion and decided not to prosecute him. Obviously a disappointment for the investigators. The amount of repairs was still 153,000 euros!

Gorillas, lions, bears… it’s a whole XXL-sized menagerie, with angular facets and vibrant colors that inspires this world-famous sculptor. In Seine-et-Marne, Richard Orlinski left his mark. During the summer of 2023, he opened a pop-up store in Vallée Village to offer small-format sculptures and related products.