Note: Since this blog entry was posted these activists have clarified that they know the painting was behind glass and had no intention of doing damage to it. While this is a relief, I'm not sure it changes much in what I've written here.
As some of you will know, I've been an admirer of activist Greta Thunberg's directness in challenging the "powers that be" when it comes to the climate emergency. She's no longer the waif carrying out a lonely and prophetic vigil outside the Swedish parliament. Still, at the wise old age of 19 she continues to inspire young people around the world who realize that the "solutions" proposed by politicians and industrialists are self-serving and disastrous for future generations.
This said, I am disturbed by the choice of two young woman who are part of the Just Stop Oil movement to attack the Vincent Van Gogh painting, Sunflowers, which is in the National Gallery in London, throwing tomato soup on the globally famous work of art. How could this advance their cause in any meaningful way? Didn't they realize that this would deepen the convictions of some that climate activism is for crackpots when it is actually an existential crisis for all living creatures?
There have been many bold and subversive protests on behalf of worthy causes through the years, and they are often disruptive -- think of the actions of Greenpeace or the young Chinese man standing in front of a tank in Tiananmen Square or what's currently happening in Iran. Potentially damaging a painting (they didn't) makes no sense.
Van Gogh and the Seasons book cover
I've had a life-long fascination with Van Gogh, reading biographies, watching the films, and actually standing in front of that same painting on several occasions. The book illustrated above is one of my favourites.
Vincent was the quintessential starving artist, selling only one painting during his brief and troubled lifetime. He also chose radical simplicity along the way, particularly when he was an earnest and ill-fated young student for Christian ministry, acting in solidarity with impoverished miners in his native Netherlands. He was deeply attuned to the natural world and when he was in the darkest throes of mental illness found solace painting "en plein air." Think about it, sunflowers are the Creator's alternative energy solar array, literally tracking the sun.
How could these misguided young activists have carried out this desecration of a work by someone who probably would have supported their cause if he lived today? Ah well, they've been arrested and charged and had their Warholian "15 minutes of fame." Someone has already suggested that if they wanted to make their point with soup they should have found a Andy Warhol painting!
2 comments:
Your piece prompted me to go for more coverage and I viewed a video of the incident taken at the gallery. The oil protestors glued their hands to the wall after the throwing of the soup and made their verbal statement. "What is more important to you -- the protection of art or the protection of the planet and its people?........" and much more. I don't know if they were aware prior to the incident that the picture was covered in glass. But it was unharmed. Perhaps it was more about shock and attention than actual destruction (though the frame was damaged).......KB
Yes, this act copies other performative protests in art galleries in recent months. It's hard to imagine what they actually accomplish, other than brief attention. I'm baffled by those who support their actions, using examples which to me are false equivalencies. Weren't we appalled when the Taliban and Al Quaeda destroyed antiquites and works of art as zealots? As important as addressing the Climate Emergency is, attacking the best of human creativity is not the answer. Thanks Kathy.
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