• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. Oil protestors plead not guilty to sabotaging Van Gogh painting
Europe

Oil protestors plead not guilty to sabotaging Van Gogh painting

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 4 Nov 2022 11:48

No damage to the 1880s painting, which is estimated at a value of $80.99 million, was reported.

  • The protestors who threw soup at the painting (The Guardian)
    The protestors who threw soup at the painting (The Guardian)

Media outlets reported that the climate activists, famous for throwing soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers” painting at the National Gallery in London, appeared on Saturday in a London court on charges of criminal damages. 

Protesting as part of the Just Stop Oil campaign group, the two women pleaded not guilty on Friday at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court during the hearings after they spilled two cans of tomato soup over the oil painting. 

According to the London Metropolitan Police, the protesters had to be removed by specialists after they glued themselves to the gallery wall. 

No damage to the 1880s painting, which is estimated at a value of $80.99 million, was reported, per a spokesperson for the museum.

The spokesperson told CNBC: “There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed,” as the painting is protected with glass, so it was cleaned and returned to the Gallery later Friday.

The campaign's protest in London has been going on for two weeks, and its group has released a press statement saying that the actions taken were “in response to the government’s inaction on both the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis.”

One activist said in a video: “What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?”

Widespread criticism has been hit at the campaign from environmental groups and politicians from the opposition Labour Party following their protests recently for their techniques of protesting, labeled "disruptive". 

Protestors from the campaign attempted to breach the gates of Downing Street on Tuesday as part of a widely publicized campaign to halt new oil and gas exploration in Britain. The Prime Minister's official residence is located on a street Just Stop Oil activists attempted to enter, but they were unsuccessful.

  • Van Gogh
  • Oil
  • paintings

Trending Now

All
Activists throw liquid at a Gustav Klimt painting in Vienna (AP)

Just Stop Oil activists follow suffragettes tactic amid charges filed

Most Read

Haaretz

Mossad agent killed in Italy part of anti-Iran mission: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 3 Jun
Screengrab from drone video footage showing Ukrainian Leopard tanks getting hit by Russian artillery in the Zaparozhye direction (Social media / Telegram: ZA_FROHT)

Germany's Leopards, IRIS-Ts not holding up well in Ukraine

  • Europe
  • 8 Jun
James G. Rickards. (WIkipedia)

Ex-CIA advisor predicts date when US dollar hegemony will collapse

  • Europe
  • 7 Jun
NATO may deploy troops in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

NATO states may deploy in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

  • Europe
  • 8 Jun

Read this

All
Swiss team to visit Lebanon in Salameh probe
MENA

Swiss team to visit Lebanon in Salameh probe

  • 8 Jun
Muslim worshippers gather for Friday prayers, next to the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city, Friday, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' plans to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Muslims, Jews

  • 8 Jun
Germany's second largest refinery of BP in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
Europe

Eurozone entered technical recession: EuroStat

  • 8 Jun
RFK Jr. says Pentagon hid Ukraine truth from Americans
US & Canada

RFK Jr. says Pentagon hid Ukraine truth from Americans

  • 8 Jun
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS