Protesters Face Court After Oil Painting Vandalism
Three activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil are set to appear in court after allegedly vandalizing two Van Gogh paintings at the National Gallery. The incident occurred on Friday, September 27, when soup was thrown at the valuable artworks, causing damage to the paintings.
The individuals involved in the vandalism have been identified as Stephen Simpson, 61, of Bradford, West Yorkshire; Phillipa Green, 24, of Penryn, Cornwall; and Mary Somerville, 77, also from Bradford. They have been arrested and charged with criminal damage, and will face their charges in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 30.
This is not the first time Just Stop Oil activists have targeted famous artworks to raise awareness about environmental issues. In a previous incident, two members of the group were convicted for pouring soup on Van Gogh’s iconic ‘Sunflowers’ painting at the same gallery. The act caused significant damage to the painting’s frame, estimated to be around £10,000.
Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, received prison sentences for their actions, with Plummer being handed a two-year term and Holland receiving a 20-month sentence. The judge presiding over the case expressed concern about the potential damage caused by the soup seeping through the protective glass covering the painting.
According to reports, the gallery staff had to assess the extent of the damage to the paintings and their frames while the activists remained glued to the gallery. Judge Hehir, who has a history of sentencing environmental activists to prison, emphasized the importance of respecting art and condemned the activists for their actions.
In a similar act of protest, two Just Stop Oil activists attached themselves to John Constable’s painting ‘The Hay Wain’ in July 2022. The activists used the opportunity to raise questions about the value of art versus the value of life and justice, highlighting the impact of the cost-of-oil crisis on people and the planet.
Despite facing legal consequences for their actions, the activists remained committed to their cause. Hannah Plummer, one of the activists involved in the vandalism at the National Gallery, was later apprehended for spraying paint on a departure board at Heathrow Airport, demonstrating her continued dedication to environmental activism.
The incidents involving Just Stop Oil activists have sparked debate about the effectiveness of their protest methods and the balance between artistic preservation and environmental concerns. While some view their actions as disruptive and disrespectful, others see them as a necessary means of drawing attention to urgent issues facing the planet.
As the activists prepare to face court for their alleged vandalism of the Van Gogh paintings, the case raises important questions about the boundaries of protest and the impact of environmental activism on cultural institutions and society as a whole.
