An international food fight

Activists throw food to demand action against climate change

Jessica Mills / Arts & Culture Editor / The USD Vista

Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and Monet’s “Les Meules” are some of the most well-known pieces of art around the world. While these paintings may not have many similarities, they all share one thing in common: being used as targets for climate change protests. 

Starting back in May, a man disguised as an older woman in a wheelchair threw a piece of cake at the Mona Lisa, housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The man was escorted away shortly after, yelling, “Think of the Earth. There are people who are destroying the Earth. That’s why I did this,” according to the Associated Press. 

Since then, the demonstrations have progressed. Two protestors splattered tomato soup on Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London and glued one of their hands to the wall by the painting. A similar attention-grabbing stunt was taken against Monet’s “Les Meules,” which were covered in mashed potatoes. 

None of the paintings were harmed due to protective glass casing, but the protestors’ actions went viral, setting off international debate. 

Just Stop Oil — a coalition of groups that work together to stop new fossil fuel licensing and production — are behind the protests. According to their website, Just Stop Oil believes in causing disruption in a peaceful manner.

In an interview with Euro News, Just Stop Oil spokesperson, Alex De Koning explained that the protests won’t last forever. Rather, they’re “only doing this until the government [makes] a meaningful statement about ending new fossil fuel assets in the U.K. As soon as that happens, we’re off and we move out of the way.”

Phoebe Plummer, one of the Just Stop Oil activists responsible for throwing soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” yelled during the protest, “What is worth more: art or life? Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?”

United Press International reported that both activists responsible for throwing soup at the painting — Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland — appeared in Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Oct. 22, after damaging the frame of “Sunflowers.” The pair were released on bail on the condition that they do not enter galleries or museums and their trial is set for Dec. 13. 

For USD senior Maile Nomura, drastic measures against climate change are necessary. But, she feels the protestors’ efforts are misdirected.  

“I fully understand why people are doing drastic things to attract more attention to climate change,” Nomura said. “I support bold ways to protest, however I don’t think it’s fair to disrespect artists and potentially destroy artworks. If the artist opposed climate change [policy], maybe that’s different, but what did Vincent Van Gogh have against climate change [policy]?”

USD senior Eric Ricks is intrigued by the efforts of the activists.

“Overall, I think these protesters have done a great deal of consideration and research into what they believe in,” Ricks said. “These are all individuals who, at the very least, have gone the extra mile to emphasize what is important to them and what should be important to us as a collective, while also not doing much damage to the corporations who greatly contribute to these issues.”  

Conversely, Nomura believes that there are more effective ways to protest climate change.

“Art and climate change are completely separate things; if you’re going to protest for something, protest against things or people that don’t believe the issue of climate change, not art,” Nomura said. “Realistically, the people who don’t care about climate change are not going to care for the damaged art. If anything, it will portray protesters in a way that will deter others from hearing them out.”

Most recently, a climate protester glued his head to the famous painting by Johannes Vermeer, “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” A one-minute video clip posted on Twitter showed another protestor gluing his hand to the wall beside the artwork while pouring a red substance on the first man’s head and body. 

The protestor that glued his hand to the wall asked onlookers, “Do you feel outraged? Good. Where is that feeling when you see the planet being destroyed before your very eyes?”

Ricks believes that these kinds of shocking stunts are necessary for any action against climate change to take place. 

“I think this form of protesting is warranted, because frankly enough people just aren’t listening or doing much to move us in the right direction,” Ricks said. 

These international food fights have sparked various debates — both supporting and disapproving the actions. With Just Stop Oil’s plans to continue protests until effective action is taken, it is likely these will not be their last demonstrations.