Just Stop Oil activists throw tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

Two protestors from Just Stop Oil have just thrown tinned tomato soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s 1888 painting, “Sunflowers”.

The climate activists performed the stunt at London’s National Gallery earlier this morning (October 14). Shortly after entering the space, the pair – wearing matching Just Stop Oil t-shirts – hastily threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the famed painting, which is covered by a layer of protective glass. They then knelt down in front of the image and glued their hands to the wall. 

“What is worth more, art or life?” they went on to say. “Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?”

The activists are part of Just Stop Oil, which is calling on the UK government to stop all new oil and gas ventures in the face of climate catastrophe and a cost of living crisis. The stunt is part of a week of protests and direct action.

“The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis,” the unidentified activists continued, shortly before being ushered out by security. “Fuel is unaffordable to millions of cold and hungry families. They can't even afford to heat a tin of soup.”

Dazed has reached out to Just Stop Oil for a comment, but in the meantime, you can watch the footage in full below.