“What is worth more: art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice?" one of the activists yells, adding, "Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?”

These were the words of a young woman after she and another climate protester had tossed tomato soup at the Van Gogh painting Sunflowers and literally glued themselves to the wall of the National Gallery in London, which houses the work of art.

The protest targeting *Sunflowers* just after the soup and the glue

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These actions garnered headlines but certainly was not the first time climate activists have targeted famed art in their protests against global heating. In July, Leonardo’s The Last Supper was targeted when members of Just Stop Oil glued their hands to the painting’s frame. A separate group protested the use of gas and coal when they glued their hands to Primavera. This 15th century work by Botticelli is considered one of the most important works of art from the Renaissance. This past Sunday, protesters threw mashed potatoes at a Monet. Yesterday, in the Netherlands, Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring received the glue treatment.

Targeting famous works of art as a form of protest is not a new thing. Over a hundred years ago, a suffragette, Mary Richardson, attacked The Toilet of Venus with a meat cleaver. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, itself an anti-war statement, was vandalized to protest the Vietnam War.

Others are taking what might be considered more direct action. On Monday, Ted Cruz, one of the most strident climate change deniers in Congress, was on the popular morning talk show The View to promote his new book, Justice Corrupted, when protesters interrupted the show, chanting “Conquer climate now!” Taking things to the heart of the matter, on Wednesday, climate activists occupied the headquarters of BlackRock, an investment firm that finances the fossil fuel industry.

Climate scientist Michael Mann has voiced his opposition to targeting art as a way of protesting global heating. Peter Kalmus, another climate scientist who has himself been arrested for protesting climate change, supports this type of protest. But what do you think? Should climate activists target famed works of art? I’d be interested in what you think of these protests. I’m eager to find out from as many folks as possible, so please share this post if you can.

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