Two climate activists stick to Van Gogh’s ‘Peach Tree in Blossom’ in a London gallery (PHOTO, VIDEO)

Published:

Jul 1, 2022 02:24 GMT

With their action, the environmentalists wanted to urge the UK Government to put an end to new fossil fuel projects, as well as get “art institutions to join them in civil resistance”.

Two activists from the climate movement ‘Just Stop Oil’ (‘Stop the oil’) this Thursday they stuck the palms of their hands to the frame of the painting ‘Peach Blossoms’ by Vincent Van Gogh, dated 1889 and exhibited at the Courtauld Gallery in London.

according to a release of the group, the gesture was intended to urge the UK Government to end new fossil fuel projectsas well as make “art institutions join them in civil resistance”.

It was not clear what type of adhesive substance Louis McKechnie and Emily Brocklebank used for their protest, nor if they damaged the painting, but according to the video published by ‘Just Stop Oil’ on social networks, several police officers went to the museum to root of action.

“Scientists say we should end fossil fuel licenses and the government is throwing sand in their ears. I am not about to be put to death by the fossil fuel companies and their government stooges,” McKechnie said.

“It is immoral for cultural institutions to stand by and watch as our society collapses. The galleries should close. The directors of art institutions should ask the Government to stop all new oil and gas projects immediately. Either we are in the resistance or we are complicit,” he continued.

The group explained that their demonstration took place “amid warnings that the Provence region [Francia] painted by Van Gogh could soon experience drought“.