Tourist falls into gaping black hole in Portugal museum mistaking it for a painting

The void stares back: Anish Kapoor's Descent into Limbo. Photo / fundacaoserralves, youtube

It is a black hole so dark no light can escape it. Turns out, it's been trapping a few tourists too.

As was the case on August 13, when an Italian tourist fell into an exhibit at the Serralves Museum in Porto, Portugal.

He mistook Anish Kapoor's sculpture Descent into Limbo for a two-dimensional painting, he fell down the gaping hole in the museum floor.

The According to The Times of London, the elderly Italian man in his sixties was admitted to hospital for back injuries and has since been released.

The dangerous piece in question is Descent into Limbo by artist Anish Kapoor. Using Kapoor's patent black paint, it is so dark as to create an optical illusion of having no dimensions.

The installation has no physical barriers around it but the museum does require visitors to sign a waiver before viewing it.

Previous visitors have wondered if it is just a painted black spot on the gallery floor. However, this incident has proven it once and for all.

While the installation is currently closed for repairs, as a spokesperson for museum told The Times it had suffered "a little bit of damage" during the incident.

It is due to be re-opened to the public shortly and Kapoor has been informed of the incident.