Two climate activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil have been sentenced to prison for throwing soup at Vincent van Gogh’s renowned painting Sunflowers at London’s National Gallery in 2022. Phoebe Plummer, 23, was handed a two-year sentence, while Anna Holland, 22, received a 20-month sentence. The pair were convicted of criminal damage in July this year.
The protest caused minor damage to the frame, but the painting itself remained unharmed, protected by a glass screen. During the demonstration, both activists also glued themselves to the gallery wall. The protest, part of Just Stop Oil's ongoing efforts to call attention to the climate crisis, sparked debate on the balance between art preservation and activism.
Judge Christopher Hehir, while issuing the sentence, criticized the activists for their lack of concern for potential damage to the artwork. “You had no right to do what you did to Sunflowers,” he said. The activists argued their protest was intended to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change, with Plummer famously asking, "What is worth more – art or life?"
Just Stop Oil has been known for its high-profile stunts in recent years, including protests at sporting events and other iconic cultural venues. Despite the controversy, the group insists that its tactics are necessary to combat what it calls the existential threat posed by climate change.
