Vandalism is not activism

Sunflowers. Dainty, fleeting and majestic.

Famous artist Vincent Van Gogh captured these aspects of the plant beautifully in the 1880s in his painting "Sunflowers." One-hundred and forty years later, on October 14, 2022, the same prized painting was drenched in creamy tomato soup. How exactly did a painting valued at $100 million end up covered in dinner?

Two young "activists" who were part of the Just Stop Oil group committed this act of insulting vandalism. The group wanted the British government to stop enacting oil and gas projects. In addition to splashing soup on the painting, the youths also glued themselves to the wall, likely in an attempt to avoid being removed from the National Gallery. This did not succeed, of course, and the delinquents were detained from the scene and arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.

This immature, ineffective and quite frankly disrespectful display of "activism" is just one example of vandalistic protest that has occurred across the globe. In fact, historic sites in Italy (such as the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and La Scala Opera house in Milan) have been victims of "eco-vandalism" so often that in January of 2024, new laws were passed increasing punishment for defacing artworks and historic sites.

It seems that eco-vandalists view their work as extreme, necessary means of protest. However, oftentimes what these people view as extreme measures are actually counterproductive; it invalidates their credibility as an organization because they are then viewed as irresponsible or reckless. Additionally, many of these destructive forms of protest have nothing to do with what they are actually protesting against. What does tomato soup or a famous painting have to do with gas or oil? The answer is nothing. Their 'protest' is harmful to their cause.

Ultimately, it comes down to this: Two wrongs don't make a right.. Fighting violence with violence or harm with harm is simply not a viable solution to a problem. Especially not for a group that's supposed to be centered around preservation and love of the environment; it's not a good look.

Vandalism is not activism; as stated by The Association of Art Museum Directors, "Art crosses boundaries of time and place to underscore the creativity that people everywhere have expressed, and they represent our shared humanity… Attacking art for any purpose undermines those common bonds. Such protests are misdirected, and the ends do not justify the means."

Opinion by Seyla Ray