In a striking protest against fossil fuel consumption, two activists from the group Just Stop Oil staged a demonstration at the National Gallery in London, where they threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s iconic painting, Sunflowers (1888). The protesters, clad in T-shirts emblazoned with their group’s slogan, glued their hands to the wall beneath the artwork, drawing significant public attention.
In response to the incident, over 100 professionals from the art world—including artists, curators, and historians—have signed an open letter advocating for leniency in the sentencing of the two demonstrators, who face criminal damage charges. Although the painting itself remained unharmed, the antique frame, dating back to the 17th century, sustained damage during the protest.
The defendants, aged 22, were convicted earlier this year, with Judge Christopher Hehir of Southwark Crown Court warning them to prepare for the possibility of imprisonment, both practically and emotionally. The artistic community’s plea reflects a broader discourse on the intersection of art, activism, and environmental urgency, highlighting the contentious nature of using cultural heritage as a backdrop for social movements.
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