Art Vandalism: An Exploratory Opinion Piece
Article by Nicole Gomez
Art vandalism is not just a new trend splashed across headlines and all over our social media feeds. Unfortunately, it’s a form of protest that has existed for years. It is only due to the contemporary growth and prominence of social media as a form of information distribution that we see a dramatic increase in the documentation of acts of vandalism. In 2022 alone, there have been 19 attacks on famous art pieces ranging from Monet to Boticelli to Da Vinci, all from activists (Benzine 2022). These repeated occurrences have started a broad-scope discussion worldwide, through both traditional news outlets and on social media, regarding the morals and legality of these situations as each attack brings forth mixed reactions.
On one side of the argument, their acts, even if they are for a good cause, are still considered illegal vandalism. Each activist who targeted artworks has been ultimately arrested and fined or charged with property damages and, in some cases, criminal trespassing. For example, one of the more notorious cases of 2022 occurred in October, when two Just Stop Oil activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, threw soup at one of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous paintings, Sunflowers (1888), located in the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London; they then proceeded to glue themselves to the wall. This stunt was done in protest of new fossil fuel developments and licensing by the British government. The painting turned out to be encased behind glass; the art remained untouched by the soup, with only minor damages to the frame resulting from the act of so-called “protest.”
Figure 1: Sunflowers, Vincent Van Gogh. 1888, Oil on Canvas.
The legal consequences for these acts have been relatively minor. Plummer and Holland appeared in court where they pled not guilty for the damages caused to the frame. The activists were ultimately granted bail, their defense being that they “[...] threw the ‘orange substance’ knowing there was a ‘protective case’ over the actual painting,” and had no intention of harming the actual painting, worth millions (Lockhart 2022). While the present estimates of damages to the painting aren’t conclusive, the current value is said to be under £5,000. The pair’s trial date was set for December 13th, 2022. Other activists who have committed comparable crimes generally received the same consequences, including fines for damages. These fines are usually very minimal, compared to the possible charges that they would face in a country like the United States, where charges could range from a misdemeanor to a felony with significant incarceration and fines.
Before being removed from the gallery, Plummer delivered a speech where she questioned, “What is worth more? Art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?” (Meyer 2022). Of course, the answer is always going to be life. Just Stop Oil’s message is a very important one that should be taken seriously. The climate crisis is a genuine concern that is constantly overlooked. However, the ways that these activists are going about promoting their cause is only serving to damage or weaken their argument, in my opinion. They are purposefully targeting famous and important works to draw attention to what they have to say, which is an effective tactic; however, they have instead created a media circus which detracts from their statements. Rather than listening to their message, people focus on the wrong thing: the act of vandalism committed, instead of the reasons behind the act. The audience exposed to these news are majorly the art community, who become blinded by the anger or disgust they feel for the activists and end up resenting the organization and, by proxy, the message the activists are trying to send. This sense of rage is multiplied when they attack artists like Vincent Van Gogh, who is well-loved in popular culture for being one of the most humble and tragic artists who held a great love and appreciation for nature.
These forms of protests are temporary and performative. Plummer and Holland themselves said they knew they would not be harming the actual painting in any way; it was for show and shock factor. On one hand, the metaphor is effective, proving how easily we can lose something culturally precious for so many years in a second. Ultimately, this parallels the message they attempt to convey regarding how we treat the Earth and our climate. Yet, this is ineffective as the ephemeral nature of this vandalism repeatedly “prove[s] what many people have come to believe: that the system will save us,” (Whelan 2022). The strong emotions people feel after witnessing these protests is just as quickly washed away as they realize how fixable it is, thus leaving no lasting reaction from the public or substance to the activists and their arguments. It also ultimately gives the wrong message: there is nothing that any bystander can do to help the painting after its been vandalized, they are left to trust “that the experts have everything in hand; that despite terrifying appearances, we don’t need to worry,” (Whelan 2022). Groups like Just Stop Oil are attempting a widespread, public call to action, from multimillion organizations to the everyday pedestrian, hoping to inspire action regarding climate change. However, when their protests can be easily taken care of by other people, resolved “offstage,” no one feels inclined to take initiative. As much as I disagree with their modus operandi, I believe the punishments should not outweigh the act. Fines are appropriate; however if it ever reached the point of imprisonment, that would be too weighted and unfair.
REFERENCES:
“Art attack: can vandalism be justified to save the planet? | Letters.” The Guardian, 21 October 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/21/art-attack-can-vandalism-be-justified-to-save-the-planet. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Benzine, Vittoria, and Jo Lawson. “Here Is Every Artwork Attacked by Climate Activists This Year, From the 'Mona Lisa' to 'Girl With a Pearl Earring.'” Artnet News, 31 October 2022, https://news.artnet.com/art-world/here-is-every-artwork-attacked-by-climate-activists-this-year-from-the-mona-lisa-to-girl-with-a-pearl-earring-2200804. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Cain, Sian. “Climate activists attacking art 'severely underestimate' fragility of works, gallery directors warn.” The Guardian, 11 November 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/nov/11/climate-activists-attacking-art-severely-underestimate-fragility-of-works-gallery-directors-warn. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Lockhart, Alastair. “Just Stop Oil activists plead not guilty to damaging Van Gogh painting.” Daily Mail, 15 October 2022, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11318895/Just-Stop-Oil-protesters-plead-not-guilty-damaging-Van-Goghs-78million-painting-soup-attack.html. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Meyer, Robinson. “The Climate Art Vandals Are Embarrassing.” The Atlantic, 27 October 2022, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/10/vermeer-glue-soup-climate-protest-outrage/671904/. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Suliman, Adela. “Climate protesters endangering ‘irreplaceable’ art, say global museums.” The Washington Post, 11 November 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/11/11/climate-change-protesters-art-museums/. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Whelan, Lucy. “I'm an art historian and climate activist: Just Stop Oil's art attacks are becoming part of the problem | Lucy Whelan.” The Guardian, 17 November 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/nov/17/im-an-art-historian-just-stop-oil-soup-attacks-prove-theres-nothing-to-worry-about. Accessed 3 December 2022.
Nicole Gomez majors in Marketing with minors in both Literary Studies and Studio Art. After graduation in 2024, she hopes to travel and work in either publishing or art, before potentially pursuing a post-graduate degree. Her personal interests include film and ceramic arts.