Friday morning, London police detained two protestors who allegedly splashed what looked like tomato soup onto Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” The two face criminal damage and aggravated trespass charges.
Two protestors, identified by authorities as members of the organization “Just Stop Oil,” are shown on video tossing the material at an artwork that was painted in 1888 and is on display at the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square.
As the protestors kneeled in front of the picture and bonded their hands to the wall underneath it, observers in the background gasped and yelled for security.
One of the demonstrators kneeled and said, “What is worth more, art or life?”
Are you more concerned with the preservation of a painting, or the preservation of our world and its inhabitants? the demonstrator said. The Price of Living
London police reported that two protestors who splashed what seemed to be tomato soup onto Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” on Friday morning were detained on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.
The two protestors, whom police say were part of the organization “Just Stop Oil,” can be seen on video tossing the liquid at the picture, which was shown in the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square and dates back to 1888.
Onlookers in the video’s backdrop could be heard shrieking and shouting for security as the protestors kneeled in front of the picture and cemented their hands to the wall underneath it.
One of the demonstrators kneeled and said, “What is worth more, art or life?”
Ask yourself, “Would you rather ensure the safety of a painting or the safety of our world and its inhabitants?” …the protester went on. To some extent, the rising expense of living may be attributed to the escalating price of oil. Millions of households can’t afford to heat their homes and cook their food because fuel is so expensive. In other words, they are so poor that they can’t even afford to reheat a can of soup.
The soup was thrown on Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” by climate change demonstrators in London.
ENGLAND — On Friday, climate protestors at London’s National Gallery splashed soup over Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” to demonstrate against the exploitation of fossil fuels; however, the glass covering the artwork prevented any harm from occurring.
Two cans of tomato soup were allegedly thrown on the oil painting by activists, which is one of the Dutch artist’s most famous pieces. The organization, Just Stop Oil, is campaigning for the British government to stop new oil and gas projects. Also, the two demonstrators fastened themselves to the gallery wall.
The soup broke the glass protecting the picture and its ornate frame. The gallery said, “There is some little damage to the frame but the picture is undamaged.” Friday afternoon, it was cleaned and put back where it belonged in the gallery.
The painting is a late 1880s iteration of a series of “Sunflowers” by Van Gogh.
According to the Metropolitan Police of London, two persons were detained and charged with criminal damage and aggravated trespass.
The police stated in a statement, “Specialist officers have now un-glued them and they have been brought into custody to a major London police station.”
Later, the same group of demonstrators reassembled in front of police headquarters and splashed the spinning “New Scotland Yard” sign with yellow paint. Several others also stuck themselves to the road, causing a major backup. The authorities reported 24 arrests.
The fact that Just Stop Oil has been known to damage museum artwork has garnered them both praise and condemnation. To demonstrate their opposition to the oil industry, members of the group Just Stop Oil fastened themselves to the frame of “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci at London’s Royal Academy of Arts and to the frame of John Constable’s “The Hay Wain” at the National Gallery.
As the two weeks of demonstrations in London have continued, activists have stopped bridges and junctions.
Despite condemnation from environmentalists and scientists who believe the decision contradicts the country’s commitment to tackling climate change, the British government has opened a fresh licensing cycle for North Sea oil and gas development, sparking a wave of protests.
Protesters detained after hurling tomato soup onto Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”
The gallery audience went crazy when they saw the catastrophe. When the orange gloop began to trickle macabrely down the picture, the audience erupted in “gasps, roars, and a yell of ‘Oh my god!’,” as reported by The Guardian. The protestors, who were wearing T-shirts that said “Just Stop Oil,” did not waste any time when the soup was gone before sticking themselves to the wall in front of the artwork.
The anti-fossil fuels group’s oil painting probably had some deeper symbolic meaning. A soup activist once said, “What is worth more, art or life?” as he was nailed to the wall. Does it have greater value than food?” asked the other. Justice and more? Is the preservation of a painting more important to you than the preservation of our planet and its inhabitants?
It is said that the painting itself is in good condition and just the frame was damaged. The protesters were detained on charges of criminal damage and aggravated trespass. The Guardian claims that they have been taken into custody and are being held in a police station in the heart of London. Meanwhile, things on the web are about to explode.
Many understood where the activists were coming from. One Twitter user remarked, “Thoroughly bored of #VanGogh conversation already,” arguing that hunger deaths and other climate change-induced calamities were more noteworthy.
Most folks are only poking fun at you. One Twitter user referred to Deirdre Barlow, a character from the British soap drama Coronation Street, by saying, “Deirdre Barlow has thrown trifle on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery.” Someone another expressed their sadness by saying, “Van Gogh would have enjoyed Heinz Tomato Soup.”
