- cross-posted to:
- climate@slrpnk.net
- cross-posted to:
- climate@slrpnk.net
Two activists arrested after Rokeby Venus artwork targeted, as dozens of others held after blocking Whitehall
Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested after smashing the glass covering a Diego Velázquez painting at the National Gallery in London, as police detained dozens of others who blocked Whitehall.
Two activists targeted the glass on the Rokeby Venus painting with safety hammers before they were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
The artwork, which was painted by Velázquez in the 1600s, was slashed by the suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914. One of those involved on Monday said: “Women did not get the vote by voting; it is time for deeds not words.”
The Metropolitan police said at least 40 activists who were “slow marching” in Whitehall were also detained and that the road was clear after traffic was stopped for a brief period
I don’t understand why they keep targeting art. Wouldn’t smashing car windows (for example!) make more sense?
Art is an investment rich people use to stay wealthy, I think it’s symbolic. They’re in a ln odd way attacking institutional wealth, which tracks for an organization that calla themselves “Stop Oil.”
I don’t know that this is their take, but it’s my reading on the repeated choice to attack fine art.
As a poor person who loves art in many mediums, this is a pretty bleak and depressing take. Yes some art is that, but there’s a reason people travel from all the world over to see the Sistine Chapel or the Eiffel Tower. There’s a reason poor people feeling like their voice isn’t heard pick up a pen or a brush, or film, or a spray can, etc.
Art isn’t only that though and if that’s the point it’s going to go unnoticed and unrealized by most people rendering any symbolism or point moot. A circlejerk where people pat themselves on the back on the oh-so-deep symbolism and historical callbacks is not going to change anything but the brunches of some pretentious assholes who think they’re saving the world when they’re actually doing more harm than good.
This is more like protesting the fur industry by releasing the caged, tortured animals into the wild to wreak more havoc as an invasive species to the enviroment and ecosystem they’re released into, but at least people can cheers themselves for making a difference.
Because art gets them more publicity. Also if they are going around smashing car windows then they are liable to thousands in fines due to criminal damage, turn the general public against them even more so than they already are and it will likely legitimise tough laws being created against this group.
… do you think they aren’t going to be liable for damaging art that is worth as much as or more than most common cars?
Out of curiosity, how many news articles about them throwing paints on oil company owned building or luxury cars dealership did you shared ?
That would be attacking the public though. Destroying Art is something that is technically accessible to all, but practically only studied and coveted by the wealthy (who have time and financial assets to pursue it)
It kind of makes sense to me for environmental protests, as in “we only have one earth, just like we only have one of this painting”.