Just Stop Oil claimed in a statement that two protesters placed two cans Heinz Tomato Soup over the painting at 11:00 (1000 GMT), to demand that the UK government stop any new oil or gas projects.
Video posted on social networks showed that environmental protesters on Friday tore tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting at London’s National Gallery.
London’s Metropolitan Police announced that its officers had arrested two protesters of the Just Stop Oil Group for criminal damage. They were accused of throwing a substance “over a painting” at the gallery located on Trafalgar Square.
T-shirts bearing the slogan “Just Stop Oil”, were worn by two protestors who lobbed soup at the famous painting. The video was posted to Twitter by Damien Gayle (Guardian newspaper’s environment correspondent) and retweeted via the eco-activism organization.
After sticking their hands to the wall, one activist shouted, “What’s more important, art, or life?”
“Would you rather care about the preservation of a painting, or the protection and well-being of the planet and its people?” She questions.
One person can be heard shouting “oh, my God” when the soup hits the canvas. Another person shouts “security?” While soup drips onto a floor.
Just Stop Oil claimed in a statement that its activists had thrown two cans Heinz Tomato soup on top of the painting at 11:00 (1000 GMT), to demand that the UK stop any new oil or gas projects.
It stated that the painting was worth $84.2 million.
It was unclear if the painting is protected with glass.
Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at National Gallery vandalized by activists
Vandalism or destruction is an always authoritarian act.
