What did you think about the protestors who threw tomato soup at Van Gogh’s painting? (November 7, 2022)
November 7, 2022
Question: What did you think about the protestors who threw tomato soup at Van Gogh’s painting?
Two Just Stop Oil protestors blew through headlines after throwing tomato soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Sunflower painting. The protest was performed as a way to get the conversation started about the cost of living in the U.K. and the amount of money the U.K. puts into the oil. Here are some opinions of the Mid-Pacific community.
I am of two minds. I think climate activism is a valuable thing that is kind of a required part of our dialogue for how we solve the climate crisis. But I think that pissing people off by vandalizing works by beloved artists, who themselves were not contributors to climate change and were activists for social causes of their time, will make more enemies than friends in the fighting of climate change.”
— Senior Evan Baron.
I thought it was crazy. Since I love art. That’s ridiculous, they kinda like. . . they don’t feel art is necessary. ”
— Junior Koko Kuramochi
If the goal was to generate discussion, then it’s fair to say they succeeded. I’m unsure if the destruction of artwork such as Van Gogh is the best way to convey the message. But to be fair, their statement is effective: Why does this beautiful painting have so much protection when our equally beautiful world has less.”
— Substitute Teacher Tommy Okamoto
Van gogh?! I hate that guy!”
— Junior Helena Winchester
My first reaction to it was laughing at it because it was kind of stupid. But I feel like if they wanted to protest they could’ve done it in a different manner because I don’t think people understood what they were trying to say– it’s just seen as vandalism now.”
— Senior Curren Yen
At first, I was really angry, because it didn’t make sense to just throw a can of tomato soup and then talk about hunger and all of that. But I watched a a speech that the activist gave and she explained how it was just to get on social media because if she was to do anything else or to just say the speech it wouldn’t get publicized. So, she was actually quite brilliant in trying to get on to social media and trying to get the platform by doing such a huge action, so I’m in between being both angry and amazed.”
— Sophomore Kailey Halbrook
