UK: Climate protesters throw soup on Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' - The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Climate protesters threw crockery implicit Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” successful London’s National Gallery connected Friday to protestation fossil substance extraction, but caused nary harm to the glass-covered painting.

The radical Just Stop Oil, which wants the British authorities to halt caller lipid and state projects, said activists dumped 2 cans of herb crockery implicit the lipid painting, 1 of the Dutch artist’s astir iconic works. The 2 protesters besides glued themselves to the assemblage wall.

The crockery splashed crossed the solid covering the coating and its gilded frame. The assemblage said “there is immoderate insignificant harm to the framework but the coating is unharmed.” It was cleaned and returned to its spot successful the assemblage connected Friday afternoon.

The enactment is 1 of respective versions of “Sunflowers” that Van Gogh painted successful the precocious 1880s.

London’s Metropolitan Police said officers arrested 2 radical connected suspicion of transgression harm and aggravated trespass.

“Specialist officers person present un-glued them and they person been taken into custody to a cardinal London constabulary station,” the unit said successful a statement.

A radical of protesters from the aforesaid radical aboriginal gathered astatine constabulary office and sprayed yellowish overgarment implicit the rotating “New Scotland Yard” motion successful beforehand of it. Several besides glued themselves to the road, blocking traffic. Police said 24 radical were arrested.

Just Stop Oil has drawn attention, and criticism, for targeting artworks successful museums. In July, Just Stop Oil activists glued themselves to the framework of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” astatine London’s Royal Academy of Arts, and to John Constable’s “The Hay Wain” successful the National Gallery.

Activists person besides blocked bridges and intersections crossed London during 2 weeks of protests.

The question of demonstrations comes arsenic the British authorities opens a caller licensing circular for North Sea lipid and state exploration, contempt disapproval from environmentalists and scientists who accidental the determination undermines the country’s committedness to warring clime change.