Activists charged for throwing soup at Van Gogh paintings in London
The women had pleaded not guilty and were released on bail. The sentence is to be announced on the 27th of September.
The painting "Sunflowers" was behind glass and remained unharmed during the soup attack - however, the frame was slightly damaged. Holland and Plummer had also stuck themselves to the wall of the museum during the action. "What is more valuable, art or life?", Plummer asked during the action.
The environmental group demands an end to oil and gas exploration and has caused controversy in recent years with numerous protest actions, including in museums and at sports events. Activists from the group recently splashed paint on the world-famous Stonehenge monument in the southwest of England with paint. The private jet of popstar Taylor Swift was also the target of a paint attack. Several members of the group were arrested at protests at London Heathrow Airport on a Wednesday.
In the past week, five activists from "Just Stop Oil", including the founder, were sentenced to prison terms between four and five years for conspiracy to plan protests.
Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting, despite being nearby during the soup attack, managed to avoid any damage to its colorful canvas. However, the soup incident resulted in minor damage to the frame. This unusual incident took place at a museum, where activists, including members from the group "Just Stop Oil," had staged their protest. This group, known for their controversial actions aiming to halt oil and gas exploration, has caused quite a stir in London and beyond, with incidents like a soup attack on a renowned painting, damaging goods, and even involving soup in painting prominent landmarks.
