LONDON—A nine-foot ceramic totem pole, one of an installation of five by Tatiana Echeverri Fernandez, was knocked over and smashed at the Royal Academy's Tracey Emin–curated summer exhibition this Saturday, reports the Guardian.

Collectively titled Frauleins Christina, Panthea, Zenobia, Semiramis and Guinevere, the installation was made up of five tall narrow ceramic totems that were cordoned off in the gallery. A visitor fell into Christina and it fell to the floor, smashing into hundreds of pieces. The gallery was briefly closed but has since reopened. Conservators are currently deciding on the best course of action.

"The RA recognised the vulnerability of these works, and much consultation took place as to how to best protect them," the RA said in a statement. "The barriers were arrived at as the best option. Summer Exhibition 2008 has got through its busiest period including many lively evening events where we were most concerned about the work, and it is disappointing that this has happened on a quiet Saturday afternoon."