In the Soup

Noemi Ramirez, Staff Reporter

 

On Oct.14 in Big Ben, London around 11 am climate change activists, Just stop oil, threw two cans of tomato soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s early 1800s painting, Sunflowers. This painting goes for at least 80.99 million dollars. Both Activists involved then proceeded to take turns spreading glue on their hands to adhesive themselves to the wall underneath the painting and shout their reasoning behind their actions. 

 

“What is worth more, art or life?”, “Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet?” Said one of the protesters. Instead of being praised the girls were criticized for attempting to destroy a piece of history.  

 

For months activists have been gluing themselves underneath famous paintings as attention-grabbing stunts to advocate for climate change. Mel Carrington the spokesperson of Just stop oil spoke out and cleared the air about their attempt in defacing the painting, stating it wasn’t the right way to go and simply pointless to destroy an iconic piece made by an iconic painter. 

 

In Britain, many householders were struggling to pay fuel and food bills because of soaring inflation, and some could not even afford to heat up a can of soup. The government should be helping ordinary people deal with ‘the cost of living crisis’ rather than enabling fossil fuel extraction.” Carrington publicly stated. 

 

National Gallery staff cleared the air and assured us that the oil painting was fortunately protected by plexiglass underneath the frame and just needed to be wiped down, the only thing they managed to partially ruin was the frame.  

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