2 UK Environmental Activist Vandalised Van Gogh's Sunflower Painting, Arrested

The world is witnessing protest in its unique form. In another protest, environmental protesters threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting at the National Gallery in central London to oppose the government. The move came in as retaliation to the UK government's all-new oil gas projects. 

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Snehal Mutha
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Activist Vandalised Van Goughs Painting
The world is witnessing protest in its unique form. In another protest, environmental protesters threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting at the National Gallery in central London to oppose the government. The move came in as retaliation to the UK government's all-new oil gas projects. 
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A video went viral on social media and showed two girls throwing soup at the painting. Guardian newspaper's environment correspondent Damien Gayle posted a video on Twitter and was retweeted by the eco-activism group showed. 

Activist Vandalised Van Goughs Painting As A Protest

The two protesters wore T-shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil, they threw a couple of cans of soup at the iconic painting. One of the activists in the video shouts, "What is worth more, art or life? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?" 

Although, someone present in the gallery can be heard yelling oh my God as the soup spills on the canvas, and another person shouts "security" while soup drips from the frame onto the floor.

London's Metropolitan Police arrested two activists from the Just Stop Oil group on the charges of criminal damage and aggravated trespass for throwing a substance over a painting at the gallery on Trafalgar Square.

Meanwhile, Just Stop Oil in defense said in a report that its activists threw two cans of Heinz Tomato soup at 11:00 am on painting to urge the UK government to suspend all new oil and gas projects.

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About the painting- The painting's estimated value is said to be $84.2 million. Although it is not clear, whether the painting was protected by glass or not. However, the vandalism or destruction of art is seen as an authoritarian act. Also, it represents a renunciation of civilization and humanity. 


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Activist Vandalised Van Goughs Painting