British environmental activists doused $85 million Van Gogh painting with tomato soup

Two Just Stop Oil demonstrators threw Heinz tomato soup at Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London. They were arrested for aggravated damage. The cost of the painting is 76 million pounds ($85 million). Writes about it Daily Mail.

Photo: IStock

Anna Holland, 20, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, threw two cans of Heinz tomato soup at the iconic painting before taping themselves to a gallery wall.

Police say the artwork was unharmed, but the frame suffered minor damage.

Police said the two women were arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespassing. They are taken into police custody.

"Just Stop Oil activists entered the National Gallery around 11:00 a.m. and doused Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' with some substance, then stuck themselves to the wall near it," a police spokesman said.

The officers peeled off the violators of law and order and took them to the central police station in London.

Just Stop Oil said the stunt was part of a long-running campaign to force the government to stop all new oil and gas projects.

Pouring soup over the painting, Phoebe Plummer screamed, “Which is more valuable, art or life? Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned with protecting the painting or protecting our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the oil cost crisis.”

The National Gallery confirmed that the painting was unharmed, aside from "minor damage" to the frame.

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Art historian Ruth Millington said, “I think an attack on one of the most beloved paintings in the world, which I would call priceless, will not get the public support of these protesters. And they need it to make real change. What happened today is a perfect example of why a painting is fortunately protected by glass."

Newcastle-based activist Anna Holland, 20, said: “British families will be forced to choose between heating and food this winter as fossil fuel companies make record profits. But the cost of oil and gas is not limited to our accounts. Somalia is currently experiencing an apocalyptic famine brought on by drought and the climate crisis. Millions are forced to move, and tens of thousands face starvation. This is the future we choose for ourselves if we insist on discovering new oil and gas fields.”

The demonstrators were surrounded by a group of photographers and journalists as they attacked the painting, but the National Gallery staff asked the press to leave.

They then called the police to "unstick" the activists from the wall of the National Gallery.

After the last stunt at the National Gallery, the group stated: "This is not a one-day event, this is an act of resistance against the criminal government and its genocidal death project."

“Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. And the day after that. And every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas reserves in the UK, ”a spokesman for the organization said.

Art lovers have criticized the "ridiculous" climate stunt, calling it "despicable".

David Smith, 75, who arrived in the capital from Birmingham, said: "As a lover and admirer of Van Gogh, I think this is disgusting."

“I am not at all a supporter of attempts to harm art. There has to be a better way to protest,” Smith added. “They just ruined a brilliant piece of art.”

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Moira Zaman, a 75-year-old retired grammar school teacher from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, who was waiting to visit the gallery, said: “This is ridiculous. There are better ways to protest. Van Gogh was not responsible for oil production. Van Gogh did not participate in all this; oil was new to them in those days. This is such a waste of a wonderful piece of art!”

Her friend Yvonne Lincoln, 75, from Chester, added: "It's stupid to ruin pictures."

Tim Williams, 68, from Nottingham, said targeting art was not "a sensible or good way to protest".

He is dejected: “What does art have to do with it? I think these demos are useless. For every part of the oil search you stop in the UK, China builds 10 coal-fired power plants. What's the point?"

Over the past few weeks, Just Stop Oil has been protesting, including blocking roads around Parliament Square.

Footage has emerged showing 20 Just Stop Oil activists, including XNUMX glued to the road, at a major South London roundabout during rush hour arguing with angry motorists.

One angry driver is seen tearing a banner out of protesters' hands as environmental activists yell "leave us alone."

Moments later, a woman approaches and begs the group to get out of the way, as her car contains a disabled child who has to go to school.

She can be heard saying, "Why do you do this to people?"

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