Two environmental protesters were convicted on Thursday for splashing tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London in 2022. Just Stop Oil climate activists Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer, both aged 22, were found guilty of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court in the British capital. The duo had previously denied the charges related to the October 2022 incident. The protest group, advocating for the cessation of oil and gas extraction and use, has conducted several notable actions in recent years. These have included disruptions at the Wimbledon tennis tournament, the British Open golf event, art galleries, museums, and a performance of "Les Miserables". On Wednesday, several of its members were detained at London's Heathrow Airport during coordinated protests at airports across Europe. Last week, five Just Stop Oil activists, including the group's founder, received prison sentences ranging from four to five years in the UK for plotting protests that obstructed a motorway. Just Stop Oil contends that climate change presents a dire threat to humanity, justifying their aggressive tactics. The "Sunflowers" painting was shielded by a protective screen, but the frame sustained damage, according to the gallery located in Trafalgar Square. During their protest, Holland and Plummer also adhered themselves to the gallery wall. "What is more valuable — art or life?" Plummer had exclaimed. Earlier, in July 2022, Just Stop Oil protesters had similarly attached themselves to John Constable's masterpiece "The Hay Wain" at the National Gallery. Holland and Plummer have been granted bail and are scheduled to be sentenced in September.
Text: Lara Palmer
25.07.2024
Just Stop Oil activists found guilty of damaging Van Gogh painting in high-profile protest