Climate activists disrupt the Louvre, throwing soup at the Mona Lisa in a protest for sustainable agriculture. This echoes recent attacks on iconic artworks globally, signaling a new wave of art activism.
Climate Activists Protest
In a startling incident at the Louvre Museum, two women sporting T-shirts with “FOOD RIPOSTE” emblazoned on them stormed the room housing Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Mona Lisa. Their act of defiance included hurling soup at the protective glass guarding the masterpiece and crossing security barriers to get closer to the painting.
As soup splattered and chaos ensued, the women shouted, “What’s the most important thing? Art, or the right to healthy and sustainable food?” Their disruptive action aimed to draw attention to the plight of the farming system, decrying its ailments and the struggles faced by farmers.
Louvre employees swiftly responded by placing black panels in front of the Mona Lisa and evacuating visitors from the room to mitigate any potential damage or further disruptions. This incident follows a previous custard pie attack on the same painting in May 2022, emphasizing the vulnerability of renowned artworks to such activist actions.
The group behind the protest identifies itself as “Riposte Alimentaire” (Food Retaliation), describing its mission as advocating for climate action and sustainable agriculture. On their website, the collective accuses the French government of neglecting climate commitments and calls for measures akin to the nation’s healthcare system to ensure food accessibility while providing fair incomes to farmers.
This incident coincides with ongoing protests by French farmers, who, dissatisfied with government measures, have utilized tractors to stage road blockades across the country. Their demands include better remuneration, reduced bureaucracy, and protection against cheap imports. Some farmers are threatening to converge on Paris, blocking major roads leading to the capital starting Monday.
Art as a Battleground: Global Activist Trends
The Mona Lisa is not the sole masterpiece facing the brunt of activist actions. Climate activists targeted Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” at The Hague’s Mauritshuis museum in October 2022. Two activists glued themselves to the painting and its adjoining wall, while another splashed a thick red substance. Fortunately, the artwork, behind protective glass, remained unscathed.
In a similar vein, environmental activists splashed tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at London’s National Gallery in 2022. Meanwhile, members of the Last Generation group threw mashed potatoes onto Monet’s “Les Meules” (Haystacks) at the Barberini Museum in Potsdam.
These incidents underscore a growing trend of art activism, where iconic masterpieces become symbolic battlegrounds for social and environmental causes. As protests weave through the canvas of renowned artworks, museums worldwide face the challenge of balancing public accessibility with the imperative to safeguard cultural treasures from unforeseen acts of dissent. The echoes of soup-spattered canvases reverberate beyond the Louvre, signifying a new chapter in the intersection of art and activism on the global stage.
(with AFP and AP)
