Three protesters with Just Stop Oil have thrown soup over two paintings at the National Gallery, just hours after two activists were jailed for targeting one of the same artworks in 2022.
The protesters threw an orange-coloured soup at Sunflowers 1888 and Sunflowers 1889 at London’s National Gallery on Friday (27 September). They were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
Earlier that day, Phoebe Plummer, 23, was given a two-year jail term, and Anna Holland, 22, received 20 months for throwing soup over Sunflowers 1888 in October 2022.
In a video posted on X by Just Stop Oil, the environmental activists can be heard saying during Friday’s demonstration: “There are people in prison for demanding an end to new oil and gas, something which is now government policy after sustained, disruptive actions, countless headlines and the resulting political pressure.
“Future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience to be on the right side of history.”
The National Gallery said the two paintings targeted on Friday are undamaged. It said in a statement: “The paintings were removed from display and examined by a conservator. The paintings are unharmed.”
It added: “We are aiming to reopen the [Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers] exhibition as soon as possible.”
Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ targeted
Later on Friday, the museum confirmed: “Both ‘Sunflowers’ paintings are now back on display and the exhibition was reopened to the public at just after 5.45pm.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement on Saturday (28 September): “Three Just Stop Oil protesters will appear in court charged with criminal damage after soup was thrown at two Van Gogh paintings in the National Gallery.”
In July 2022, two activists from Just Stop Oil glued themselves to a John Constable painting in the National Gallery.
Just Stop Oil supporter Eddie Whittingham spoke at last year’s greenloop, the sustainability in visitor attractions conference.
Images courtesy of Just Stop Oil
