In a shocking act of protest, two Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists targeted Vincent van Gogh’s iconic painting, Sunflowers, at the National Gallery in central London. Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, both 22, threw tins of tomato soup at the painting and later glued their hands to the wall beneath it, causing damage to the gold-coloured frame of the glass-covered masterpiece.
The activists were found guilty of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court and are set to be sentenced on 27 September. Their bail conditions prohibit them from carrying glue, paint, or any adhesive substance in public places, as well as visiting galleries or museums.
During the attack in 2022, Plummer questioned the value society places on art compared to the protection of the planet and its people, highlighting the connection between the cost-of-living crisis and the cost-of-oil crisis. The protesters were swiftly apprehended by authorities and taken away in a police van.
The painting, which has been part of the National Gallery’s collection for a century, depicts 15 sunflowers in a yellow pot against a yellow background. Van Gogh created this masterpiece in a burst of creativity during a challenging time in his life.
This incident marks the second time JSO activists have targeted a painting at the National Gallery in 2022, following a similar attack on John Constable’s The Hay Wain. The previous activists involved in that incident were also found guilty of criminal damage.
The actions of these activists have sparked debate about the balance between protecting art and addressing urgent environmental concerns. As the art world grapples with these challenges, the fate of Sunflowers and other priceless works remains uncertain.
