2 Protestors Have Been Charged for Throwing Tomato Soup at an Iconic Van Gogh Artwork
“Sunflowers” is said to have an estimated value of $84.2 million USD.
Last week, two anti-fossil fuel protestors were charged with criminal damage offenses for throwing canned Heinz tomato soup on Van Gogh‘s iconic artwork “Sunflowers” in a London gallery.
In addition to vandalizing the painting — which is said to have an estimated value of $84.2 million USD — the protestors from the campaign group Just Stop Oil glued themselves to the wall.
In response to the incident, the National Gallery shared updates on the condition of the painting. “There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed,” the gallery wrote, explaining that the piece was glazed for protection from any potential harm.
A third individual from the campaign group was charged with damaging the “New Scotland Yard” sign situated outside London’s main police headquarters, while a total of 28 arrests were made from protests throughout central London the same day.
Just Stop Oil is described to be “a coalition of groups working together to ensure the Government commits to halting new fossil fuel licensing and production.” While the group did go viral for splattering tomato soup on Van Gogh’s work, it also drew criticism for damaging a significant work in art history. “And HOW does damaging a 150-year-old paining protect the planet, pray tell?” a user wrote on Twitter, while another added, “I’m generally sympathetic to their cause but I don’t know how they think they’ll win hearts and mind with such cultural vandalism.”
Watch the video clip on Twitter and read more about Just Stop Oil here.
