From Van Gogh and Monet Masterpieces to King Charles Wax Figure... Why Do Environmental Activists Damage Artworks?

Environmental Group 'Just Stop Oil' Urges UK Government to Halt New Oil and Gas Project Approvals
574 Arrests This Month Alone for Protests Including Pouring Soup on Van Gogh Masterpiece
Some Netizens Criticize: "Spraying Food Also Pollutes Environment" "Just Seeking Attention"

Recently, at the National Gallery in London, 'Just Stop Oil' splashed tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh's masterpiece 'Sunflowers.' This time, they threw a chocolate cake at the wax figure of King Charles III of the United Kingdom. Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Environmental activists who previously poured soup on famous paintings to attract attention have this time thrown a chocolate cake at the wax figure of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, sparking criticism from some who say the actions are too extreme.

According to CNN and other outlets on the 24th (local time), activists from the environmental group "Just Stop Oil," which calls for a halt to new oil and gas project approvals by the UK government, staged the protest at Madame Tussauds museum in London that morning. Madame Tussauds is well known for its life-sized wax figures of famous personalities.

Two individuals wearing T-shirts bearing the group's name stood in front of a work depicting King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, all smiling together, and smashed a whole cake onto the face of King Charles III's wax figure.

They then stated, "We stand here to protect our freedom and rights, and to safeguard this blue and pleasant land, which is the heritage of us all." The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident on Twitter, announcing that four people were arrested on charges of criminal damage.

◆ Criticism that "Attacks on Famous Artworks Are Too Extreme"

Recently, activists emphasizing the severity of the climate crisis and urging government action in various countries have repeatedly performed acts such as throwing food or gluing their hands to masterpieces by great artists.

Just Stop Oil, which threw a chocolate cake at King Charles III's wax figure, had earlier splashed tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh's famous painting "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London.

The group has been continuously staging street protests near 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister's residence, throughout this month. In a press release announcing the cake-throwing, they stated, "There have been 574 arrests during protests over the past three weeks," adding, "Since the campaign began on April 1, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested 1,880 times, and seven remain in custody." They claimed, "This is not a one-day event but an act of resistance against a government committing crimes and mass destruction projects."

Just one day earlier, on the 23rd (local time), environmental activists poured a viscous substance on a work by French Impressionist painter Claude Monet housed at the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, Germany.

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The environmental group named "Letzte Generation" (Last Generation) stated on Twitter that the protest was intended to raise awareness of how fossil fuel use is hastening humanity's demise, and that the substance poured on Monet's work was mashed potatoes.

Photos released by the group show two women wearing orange vests typically worn at construction sites pouring a yellow substance on one of Monet's "Haystacks" series. They also pressed their glue-covered hands against the wall.

The environmental group named "letzte generation" splattered mashed potatoes on Monet's artwork. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Environmental activists such as Just Stop Oil and Letzte Generation argue that their protests are necessary to raise awareness of the crisis humanity faces due to climate change, but there are also criticisms that attacks on beloved famous artworks are too extreme.

Some netizens have criticized, saying, "It's just to get attention," "Dyeing hair while claiming to care about climate or environment is contradictory," "How does damaging artworks relate to environmental protection?" and "Throwing food is also environmental pollution."

The reason environmental activists' protests have become somewhat intense, including those addressing the climate crisis, is that the more famous the artwork, the greater the attention and publicity effect. Nevertheless, some argue that damaging artworks actually undermines the pure intentions of environmental groups.

Meanwhile, like the Van Gogh painting, the Monet work was framed behind glass, so no damage occurred from the mashed potatoes, and the piece will be restored and exhibited again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.