Protesters throw soup on two Vincent Van Gogh 'Sunflowers' paintings again

On September 27, three protesters entered Van Gogh's Poet and Lover exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in London and threw soup on two Sunflowers paintings (which were   painted in 1888 and 1889).

3 protesters threw soup on 2 Sunflower paintings

According to the Telegraph , the incident occurred after Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland were sentenced to 24 months and 20 months in prison respectively on September 27 for pouring soup on the Sunflowers painting (which was   Van Gogh's 1888 painting in October 2022.

Just Stop Oil is a coalition of activist groups calling on the UK government to end the licensing and approval of fossil fuel exploration, development and production in the UK. Just Stop Oil said similar acts of solidarity had taken place in Berlin, where protesters gathered outside the British Embassy and held up signs reading “Solidarity with the Soup Throwers”.

The clip recorded the scene of 3 people throwing soup on 2 Sunflower paintings.

The National Gallery of Art said three activists were arrested and the paintings remained intact after the incident.

A statement later said: "The paintings have been removed from display and inspected by conservators, and are undamaged. We are aiming to reopen the exhibition as soon as possible."

In a social media video , one protester said: "Future generations will see these prisoners of conscience as being on the right side of history."

Holland and Plummer, both 22, were convicted of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court in July 2024.

Holland and Plummer, both 22, were convicted of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court in July 2024. During their trial, the activists denied damaging the painting, but did cause $13,372 worth of damage to the frame. Prosecutors said the frame was also a “work of art”.

In October 2022, two protesters wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts threw two cans of tomato soup at the 1888 artwork, then knelt in front of it and pressed their hands against the wall below. Both were escorted out by security, who then closed the gallery.

Security guard Raj Chada said the two women "checked" that the painting was protected by a glass cover before pouring the soup on it.

Plummer represented himself, telling the hearing: "My choice today is to accept whatever sentence I receive with a smile...".

Painted in Arles in southern France in August 1888, Van Gogh's Sunflowers depicts 15 sunflowers in a yellow flower pot against a yellow background.

The priceless painting is the second National Gallery work targeted by Just Stop Oil in 2022. Two protesters previously targeted John Constable's The Hay Wain in July 2022.

In a video about the attack in October 2022, Plummer said: "What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Is it worth more than justice? Do you care more about protecting a painting or protecting the planet and its people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis."

Sentencing the environmental activists, Judge Christopher Hehir said the painting could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed".

Protesters repeat the act of throwing soup on Van Gogh's painting on September 27.

"The soup could have seeped through the glass. You had no right to do what you did to the masterpiece Sunflowers ," Judge Christopher Hehir confirmed.

Judge Hehir interrupted Plummer when she called herself a " political prisoner". He said: "That doesn't help the case, you're doing a Just Stop Oil scenario and I've heard all that before. What you're doing is making an insulting comparison."

He said the two men had "crossed the line from protesters to fanatics".

The Sunflowers series includes 10 of Vincent Van Gogh's most famous and recognizable works. From 1887 to 1889, the Dutch post-impressionist painter painted the flower that always turns towards the sun.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-bieu-tinh-lai-tat-xup-len-2-buc-tranh-hoa-huong-duong-cua-vincent-van-gogh-18524092816383805.htm