Chinese student stabs woman at Miami art gallery, visitors confuse it for performance

A Chinese student from New York has been arrested for stabbing a woman at an art exhibition in Miami last Friday (Dec 4).

According to reports, 33-year-old Young Shin Seo was allegedly stabbed in the arm and shoulder by 24-year-old college student Zhao Siyuan at the world famous Art Basel festival.

Despite her screams, visitors who were standing nearby assumed it was part of the exhibit's performance.

Photographer Rudy Perez told CBS News that he was standing near an exhibit by artist Naomi Fisher when he heard a woman scream.

"I thought it was part of the exhibit. Then I see police, I see someone on the floor," told Perez to CBS News.

Fisher told The Miami Herald that the stabbing happened near her art exhibit and she had heard the commotion, only to see a woman being wheeled away by paramedics.

The area had been cordoned off but others had thought it was part of an art installation, RT.com reported.

Despite the bloody altercation, the atmosphere at gallery reportedly remained calmed. According to Twitter user @NickNehamas, those present were "oblivious" to what had happened and continued to "sip champagne and critique abstract art."

area where #ArtBasel stabbing happened is open again. Very hush-hush. Oblivious fair-goers sip champagne and critique abstract art

— Nicholas Nehamas (@NickNehamas) December 5, 2015

very casual attempted murder at Art Basel. I don't know what's more shocking, this story or the art in this show. pic.twitter.com/e1Zg2rUM4i

— andrew hines (@andyhinestv) December 5, 2015

It is not known what Zhao's motive was for stabbing Young. However, it was reported that Zhao had apparently followed the victim around the Art Basel gallery and bumped into her several times before pulling out an X-Acto knife and stabbed Young both in the arms and neck.

JUST IN: Photos show moments after #ArtBasel stabbing. Victim bleeding, woman in cuffs. Story at 11 on #Local10. pic.twitter.com/rPFMVMKQSX

— Liane Morejon (@LianeMorejonTV) December 5, 2015

Woman stabbed during argument at #ArtBasel exhibit; suspect arrested. #MiamiBeach pic.twitter.com/OkWNkfSmMj

— Pamela Vizcaino (@PamelaVizcaino1) December 5, 2015

In her arrest report, Zhao said she wanted to kill her victim "and two more" and that she "had to watch" her victim bleed. RT.com also reported that Young had told police officers at the scene that she had never been involved with her attacker prior to the incident.

Young was sent to a local hospital with "non life-threatening injuries", The Miami Herald reported. Her attacker was arrested at the scene.

According to weblog Gothamist, Zhao had recently finished her five-year architecture programme at the University of Oregon and had recently moved to New York to apply for graduate school.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg