Climate activists have once again gone to souper extreme lengths to share their message, this time by vandalizing a painting by artist Vincent van Gogh.
A pair of activists from the group Just Stop Oil splattered tomato soup over Van Gogh’s painting “Sunflowers” on display at London’s National Gallery. The two women then proceeded to take glue sticks, rub them onto their hands, and place their glued hands on the wall next to the painting, according to a video posted by the group.
“Human creativity and brilliance is on show in this gallery, yet our heritage is being destroyed by our Government’s failure to act on the climate and cost of living crisis,” a statement from the group read.
YOUNG CONSERVATIVES MORE ENERGIZED ABOUT GOP-LED CLIMATE AGENDA, EXPERTS SAY
? JUST STOP OIL SUPPORTERS CHOOSE LIFE OVER ART ?
? Human creativity and brilliance is on show in this gallery, yet our heritage is being destroyed by our Government’s failure to act on the climate and cost of living crisis.#VanGogh #FreeLouis #FreeJosh #CivilResistance pic.twitter.com/gXXGLsi0ej
— Just Stop Oil ⚖️?? (@JustStop_Oil) October 14, 2022
Both protesters have been arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass, Metropolitan Police Events stated on social media.
Officers were rapidly on scene at the National Gallery this morning after two Just Stop Oil protesters threw a substance over a painting and then glued themselves to a wall. Both have been arrested for criminal damage & aggravated trespass. Officers are now de-bonding them.
— Metropolitan Police Events (@MetPoliceEvents) October 14, 2022
The painting itself dates back to 1888 and is one of five versions of “Sunflowers” on display in museums and galleries across the world, according to the gallery. The activist group claims that the painting has a value of $84.2 million.
Just Stop Oil has been responsible for several other art-related protests this year, as members of the group glued themselves to the frame of the Van Gogh painting “Peach Trees in Blossom” at the Courtauld Gallery in London. The two protesters were calling for the government to end new oil and gas and asking for art institutions to join them in civil resistance, according to a statement from the group.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
On Sunday, two protesters from the international environmental group Extinction Rebellion glued their hands to Picasso’s “Massacre in Korea” painting at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia before they were arrested, according to BuzzFeed.
