Just Stop Oil activists deny criminal damage to Van Gogh paintings
Just Stop Oil activists have denied that Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings were damaged after they were targeted at the National Gallery on September 27th.
On September 27th, three climate activists entered the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square at around 14.30pm to see the new Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers exhibition, and threw soup at versions of the artist’s famous Sunflower paintings. Only hours before they did so, two other Just Stop Oil activists were jailed for the exact same act, pouring soup over the same painting back in October, 2022.
These three new protesters, 71-year-old Stephen Simpson, 77-year-old Mary Somerville, and 24-year-old Phillipa Green, all have now pled not guilty to criminal damage at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The prosecution barrister, James Bowker, said that Mr Simpson and charity worker Ms Green threw soup on one painting on the left of the gallery. Retired teacher Ms Somerville threw soup on another painting on the right.
After, all three protesters removed their jackets to reveal Just Stop Oil t-shirts and said to the angry crowd of onlookers, “There are people in prison for demanding an end to new oil and gas, something which is now government policy after sustained, disruptive actions, countless headlines and the resulting political pressure.”
They continued by referencing the climate protesters who had been sentenced that same day, “Future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience to be on the right side of history.”
Bowker claimed that there had been criminal damage done as the frames had been effected. He said that one of the antique frames, which was estimated to be worth £10,000 to £20,000, would “likely require lengthy restoration”. The other frame is on loan from another gallery, therefore, the exact value is unknown, but Bowker said it is “likely to be in a similar range”.
The barrister did admit, though, that the paintings themselves are unharmed. However, he said that the risk of damage could have a “serious social impact” as the Sunflowers were “loved by millions of people around the world and in the UK”.
For the Just Stop Oil activists, the fact that they knew the paintings would go unharmed is the point and that their beloved reputation is exactly why Van Gogh’s work was targeted.
Their defence lawyer, Raj Chada, said the damage to the frames had not been assessed yet. He also made it clear that “There was no damage to the paintings whatsoever”, and added, “They have been covered by a very thick protective glass screen.”
All three were granted bail with the condition of not entering the Greater London area within the M25 except for pre-arranged court appearances. They will return to court at the end of October.
