By Juliana Yao, Co-Opinion Editor
In the span of just a few hours on Sept. 27, three people threw canned tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the London National Gallery. Previously, London police arrested two individuals who performed the same stunt in 2022. The incidents have something else in common — the soup-throwers were all members of Just Stop Oil, a climate activist group based in Britain whose demonstrations often draw controversy for supposed vandalism.
As an artist myself, when I saw the images of soup drowning out the delicately painted sunflowers of one of Van Gogh’s most famous works, I was appalled and honestly, angry. However, the painting was fine. Not only was it protected with a thick layer of glass, but the activists only threw the soup in the first place because they knew about the protection. The frame was damaged, but even then, Phoebe Plummer, the activist who performed this demonstration in 2022, made a provoking point: “Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?”
The reaction we get out of these acts of vandalism is an effective reminder of how we should feel about global warming and the destruction of our natural planet. In fact, some argue that Van Gogh himself would have supported these acts as a radical who was ostracized in his art community at the time and an avid nature lover.
Regarding the shock value of feats like the “Sunflowers” incidents, many often preach that Just Stop Oil should be doing something better with its time, perhaps protesting at actual oil refineries rather than causing commotions at museums and disrespecting historical pieces of art.
But as revealed in journalist Sam Light’s 12 interviews with Just Stop Oil members, activists did, in fact, try to target Big Oil. However, from protesting at oil depots to blocking commercial trucks and fossil fuel infrastructure, nothing quite made a splash. Then, they pulled off the “Sunflowers” stunt, bringing a tidal wave of attention to the organization and cause. From there, the choice became clear on which avenue to pursue, even with the public backlash they knew would follow.
While research cannot definitively say whether attention-grabbing and disruptive shows of activism affect climate activism negatively or positively as a whole, University of Bristol psychology professor Colin Davis’ attention theory of change suggests that it is likely that all press is good press.
While most people are aware of climate change, it is a topic that usually remains in the back of our minds. Sometimes, we need bizarre headliners to jolt it into the conversation again because it is arguably the most urgent issue we face today. History told its makers countless times in radical movements that their methods were too extreme and unnecessary, but only time will reveal the necessity of discomfort in the moment for the service of a better future.
Juliana Yao can be reached at [email protected].
