“Just Stop Oil” Campaign Targets Iconic Painting at London’s National Gallery
In a dramatic act of protest, two activists from the “Just Stop Oil” campaign threw tomato soup over Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London on Friday, 14 October. The women, wearing “Just Stop Oil” T-shirts, entered the gallery at around 11am and threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup at the artwork, which is valued at £72.5 million. After the incident, they glued their hands to the wall in protest.
Thankfully, the painting, which is oil on canvas, was shielded by a protective glass cover, preventing any damage. The activists’ actions are part of a broader campaign demanding government action on climate change and an end to new oil and gas projects.