Louvre Museum to file a complaint, as two climate activists targeted Leonardo da Vinci’s renowned painting “Mona-Lisa,” in Paris. Activists throwing soup on the masterpiece sparks the questions of security measures in galleries, becoming a global trend. Spectators gasped as two ladies threw an orange liquid on the painting. Protected by the bullet proof glass the masterpiece was unharmed from any damage.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Video footage capturing two climate activists slipping beneath the wooden security barriers, approaching the art piece, and then splattering it with soup, virtually surfaced the internet and became a global trend. This incident took place on 28th January, when two climate change activists from the French group “Riposte Alimentaire” targeted Mona-Lisa. Although the artwork is protected by bullet-proof glass and was unharmed by this incident.
Climate Activist’s Reason for this Incident
The action signalled the start of a “Civil Resistance” campaign on food rights, Riposte Alimentaire (trying to shed light on the need for sustainable food) said the following in a statement. The climate activists shouted in French, facing onlookers posing a poignant question, “What is more important? Art or to have a healthy and sustainable food system?” and “Our agriculture system is sick,” before the security guards took them away.
Recent Similar Art Protests
It is not a new news, as similar incidents have taken place earlier too. Activists have always leveraged artworks to raise awareness about climate change. Making it a part of global trends . Several attempts of targeting Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” in London’s National Gallery, Goya paintings in Madrid’s Prado museum, and Horatio McCullouch’s My Heart’s in the Highlands at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where the climate activists glued themselves with the famous painting. This is also not the first attack on renaissance artwork “Mona-Lisa”, as it was attacked earlier by a custard pie in 2022.
Global Climate Movement
The group is part of the A22 movement, a coalition of climate activism organisations, such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, encompassing protest groups in 12 countries. Attempts like such take place to draw attention towards growing global concern for environmental issues and the urgency to address them.
Security Concerns at Museums
Similar incidents frequently take place as art becomes a canvas for activism. Questioning the growing concern towards the security of major museums. As art institutions struggle with the challenge of preserving cultural heritage, the clash between activism and artistic preservation continues till date. Leading to strict bag checkings, control and layering paintings with protective glass due to numerous attacks on paintings. Such as the tomato soup incident on Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London by Just Stop Oil.
Conclusion
Art serves as a heritage, cultural and historical record and preserving it is essential. These artwork reflects human expressions and the evolution of society, using it as a leverage for activism is highly disrespectful. Harming and destroying such artwork undermines the value of preserving heritage and erases vital connections to our past. Incidents like such might become a global trend but it actually distracts the urgent need for united action in addressing climate challenges.
