Activists glued their hands to the transparent protection of the famous work in Canberra on Wednesday November 9 Campbell’s Soupwhich was not damaged.
Pro-climate demonstrators glued their hands on Wednesday, November 9 to the transparent protection of Andy Warhol’s famous work “Campbell’s Soup“, which was not damaged, said the museum the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, where it is exposed.
The demonstration, led by a group called “Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies Australiacomes after a series of climate actions targeting well-known works of art around the world.
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The activists also drew graffiti on the protections of the various canvases that make up the work, without damaging them. The covers were then removed for cleaning. In a statement, the museum reported this “demonstration“pointing out that it occurred”following similar incidents here and abroad. The National Gallery does not wish to promote these actions and will not comment further.”
The work Campbell’s Soup by Warhol, made between 1961 and 1962, is one of the most recognizable symbols of the movement pop art American.
“Warhol took as themes everyday subjects that had resonance because of their familiar origins (…) like the simple can of Campbell’s soup”, wrote the museum, in its presentation of the painting.
danger of capitalism
Climate activists said they chose screen printing to highlight the “danger of capitalism”.
“Andy Warhol portrayed consumerism gone mad in his iconic series. And now capitalism has gone mad”said protester Bonnie Cassen, in a statement. “Families today have to choose between (buying) medicine or food for their children while the oil companies are making record profits.”
Activists have also pointed to the Canberra government’s failures to end taxpayer subsidies to the fossil fuel sector.
Our government must stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry
Protester Bonnie Cassen.
An analysis published this year by the Institute of Australia, an independent think tank, found that the country paid out more than 11 billion Australian dollars (7.1 billion euros) in fossil fuel subsidies in 2021 and 2022. “Our government needs to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry,” castigated Bonnie Cassen. “Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies Australia” says it is part of a “Global Civil Resistance Network,” an informal group of environmental and climate activists who have made headlines in recent weeks by degrading environmental protections. priceless works of art.
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Other pro-climate activists recently stuck their hands on a Goya painting in Madrid, splashed tomato soup on The sunflowers of Van Gogh in London, and smeared mashed potatoes on a Claude Monet masterpiece in Potsdam, near Berlin. If the paintings remained unscathed, the incident of the Sunflowers resulted in light damage to the frame of Van Gogh’s canvas.
In October, two protesters in Australia also stuck their hands on the plexiglass protection of Massacre in Koreamade by Picasso and on temporary display in a Melbourne museum.