To protest the usage of fossil fuels, demonstrators spilled soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers in London’s National Gallery on Saturday, but the glass-covered artwork was unharmed.
Two cans of tomato soup were reportedly spilled over the oil painting, one of the Dutch artist’s most recognisable pieces, by activists from the Just Stop Oil organisation, which wants the British government to prevent new oil and gas projects.
Additionally, the two protesters used glue to adhere to the gallery wall.
The glass that was above the painting and its gilded frame was covered in soup splatters. The picture is undamaged, according to the gallery, but the frame has some minor damage.
On Friday afternoon, it was cleaned and placed back in the exhibit. Van Gogh painted multiple renditions of “Sunflowers” in the late 1880s, and this piece is one of them.
According to the Metropolitan Police in London, two people were detained on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.
In a statement, the force added that “specialist officers have now unglued them and they have been taken into custody to a central London police station.”
Later, the same group of demonstrators gathered at police headquarters and painted the spinning “New Scotland Yard” sign in front of it yellow. A number of them also adhered to the pavement, obstructing traffic. Police said 24 people were arrested.
Just Stop Oil has come under fire and notice for its attacks on museum-quality artwork. Just Stop Oil campaigners attached themselves to the frames of John Constable’s “The Hay Wain” in the National Gallery and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in July.
During the two weeks of protests, activists have also blocked bridges and intersections all around London.
University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann said he worries that the vandalism “alienates many people we need to bring into the fold. Those who are allies in the fight against climate change but who will be negatively associated with climate advocacy and activism as a result of such acts.
In spite of protests from environmentalists and scientists who claim the action undermines the nation’s commitment to combating climate change, the British government has opened a fresh licencing round for North Sea oil and gas exploration.
Those who oppose climate change threw soup on Van Gogh’s sunflower picture.
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