Recently, two climate activists from the group “Just Stop Oil” were sentenced to prison for vandalism committed against the painting “Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh at the National Gallery in London. And this is far from an isolated case. Previously, climate activists have also committed vandalism against works by, among others, Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci and Andy Warhol. This is reported by the investigative media Danwatch.
The cases have not gone unnoticed by the Danish National Museum of Art (SMK), which has over 200,000 works of art, including by Edvard Munch, Henri Matisse and Vilhelm Hammershøi. “The trend worries SMK,” says Deputy Director and Head of Administration Anne Kirkegaard.
- We think it is a shame that art is being involved in climate activism. In return, we are actively working as a museum to create increased awareness of the climate and environment and to set and meet ambitious goals for sustainable museum operations, she says.
Danish activists will not rule out actions against art
Civil disobedient climate activism has also found its way to Denmark, where the group Extinction Rebellion (XR) in particular has diligently used the methods. Among other things, they have hooked themselves to the barriers on Langebro, blocked the roads around Christiansborg, blocked the entrance to the Ministry of Transport and laid down across the busy Bredgade in inner Copenhagen.
Paintings and art have, however, been largely spared. For now. But there is nothing in principle that prevents Extinction Rebellion from directing its activism against works of art - and the fact that it creates attention can be justification enough in itself, says Jord Skovsang, who speaks on behalf of Extinction Rebellion. There can also be no “guarantees” that it will take place in the future.
- Extinction Rebellion (XR) operates decentralized, and as long as you adhere to our values and principles, and follow our action consensus, you can carry out actions like XR, it says.
SMK does not want to comment on whether the vandalism of art by climate activists has resulted in concrete security initiatives. But they “orient themselves in relation to our surroundings” at the museum, it says.
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