Climate Protesters Target van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ in New Act of Vandalism

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In a brazen repeat of their earlier destructive antics, climate protesters once again targeted Vincent van Gogh’s famed “Sunflowers” paintings at London’s National Gallery. This latest act of vandalism came just hours after two of their fellow activists were sentenced to prison for a similar stunt involving cans of tomato soup in 2022.

 

Watch the Vandalism

🚨 BREAKING: 2 VAN GOGH PAINTINGS SOUPED HOURS AFTER PHOEBE AND ANNA SENTENCED

🥫 3 Just Stop Oil supporters have thrown soup over 2 of Van Gogh paintings in the 'Poets and Lovers' exhibition at the National Gallery.

➡️ Support people in resistance: https://t.co/Rh65arOwa1 pic.twitter.com/Tc3Bvd10OB

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) September 27, 2024

 

Three members of the radical environmental group “Just Stop Oil” stormed into the gallery, armed with the same infamous tactic—a can of tomato soup. Their shirts, emblazoned with the group’s logo, served as a public statement, proudly shared on social media through video footage of the attack. The choice of soup seemed deliberate, paying homage to their comrades Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, who had been sentenced earlier that day for their 2022 defacement of van Gogh’s masterpiece.

 

“There are people in prison for demanding an end to new oil and gas, something which is now government policy,” one of the protesters declared to a stunned audience in the gallery. “Future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience as being on the right side of history.”

 

Despite the alarming scene, museum officials have assured the public that the paintings, dated from 1888 and 1889, were not harmed in the attack, thanks to protective measures. However, it remains to be seen whether the latest group of activists will face charges for their actions.

 

This incident is reminiscent of the original protest that took place in 2022, when Plummer and Holland caused an estimated $13,000 worth of damage to one of the “Sunflowers” paintings. Their act of protest, which involved gluing their hands to the floor and wall after hurling soup at the artwork, sent shockwaves through the art world. The two eco-activists, dressed in their “Just Stop Oil” shirts, justified their actions by questioning the values of society: “What is more important? Art or the right to have a healthy and sustainable food system?”

 

The court, however, was clear in its response. Earlier on the same day as the latest protest, a jury found Plummer and Holland guilty of criminal damage, and they were sentenced accordingly. Plummer received a two-year sentence, while Holland was given 20 months behind bars. 

 

Judge Christopher Hehir, who presided over the case, had strong words for Plummer, saying, “You clearly think your beliefs give you the right to commit crimes when you feel like it.” He added firmly, “You do not.” 

 

In her defense, Plummer addressed the court with a broader message, declaring, “It is not just myself being sentenced today, or my co-defendants, but the foundations of democracy itself.” Despite her impassioned plea, the judge’s verdict was a stern reminder that personal convictions do not excuse criminal behavior.

 

This ongoing clash between environmental activists and the institutions they target raises critical questions about the balance between civil disobedience and criminal activity. While the cause of climate change is undeniably urgent, the methods used by groups like “Just Stop Oil” continue to spark heated debate, as art and cultural heritage become unintended battlegrounds in the fight for a sustainable future.

 

Based on a report from: NYP 2024-09-30