Just Stop Oil activists jailed for soup protest on Van Gogh

In recent protests, Just Stop Oil activists targeted Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers paintings at the National Gallery in London. Three individuals threw an orange soup-like substance over the artworks, leading to their arrest on suspicion of criminal damage. This incident occurred shortly after two activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, received jail sentences for a similar act involving the same painting in October 2022. The court expressed concern that the soup could have damaged the artwork despite it being protected by glass. The two jailed activists were sentenced to two years and 20 months, respectively, for their actions, which included gluing themselves to the wall beneath the painting. The judge emphasized the potential risk to the cultural treasure and criticized the activists for their disregard for the artwork's safety. Supporters of Just Stop Oil gathered outside the court, highlighting the ongoing tensions between environmental activism and the preservation of cultural heritage. This protest is part of a broader trend where activists have increasingly targeted famous artworks to draw attention to climate change and government policies regarding fossil fuels. The National Gallery has previously faced similar protests, including an incident where activists glued themselves to another famous painting, John Constable's The Hay Wain. The actions of these activists have sparked debates about the effectiveness and ethics of using art as a platform for protest, raising questions about the balance between activism and the protection of cultural assets.