'What is more important? Art or the right to sustainable food?' said activists, splashing soup on Mona Lisa casing
In a recent incident that took place in Paris, activists made headlines as they threw soup at the iconic "Mona Lisa" exhibited in the Louvre Museum. The act, captured in a video, featured two individuals expressing their demand for "the right to healthy, sustainable food." Environmental activists have targeted Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece before, and this incident is not the first.
The video footage shows two women splashing orange-colored soup onto the artwork, with one of them passionately declaring, "What's more important—art or the right to healthy, sustainable food? Our agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work." It's worth noting that the "Mona Lisa" is safeguarded within a bullet-proof glass casing, ensuring that the painting remains undamaged.
Image: David Cantiniaux/AFPTV/AFP/Getty Images
A spokesperson from the Louvre Museum confirmed that the painting remained unharmed and that the room housing the "Mona Lisa" had been reopened, with everything returning to normal at the museum. The activists responsible for this act belong to the French organization "Riposte Alimentaire" (Food Response), which issued a statement clarifying that their protest aimed to draw attention to the crucial need to protect the environment and food sources.
The group's core message revolves around the necessity of establishing a system that grants people improved access to nutritious food while ensuring that farmers receive a fair income for their labor. This event coincided with ongoing protests by French farmers who are demanding better compensation, simplified regulations, and protection against the influx of cheap imports. For several days, irate farmers have been blocking roads across the country with their tractors, with some planning to converge on Paris in the coming days. New Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has pledged to address the concerns of farmers with decisive action in the weeks ahead.
Image: David Cantiniaux/AFPTV/AFP/Getty Images
It's interesting to note that this isn't the first time activists have attacked well-known works of art. In May 2022, an activist threw cake at the "Mona Lisa." Climate activists advocating for more robust government action on global warming and the phase-out of fossil fuels have also staged similar protests in European capital cities, including Rome, London, and Vienna. In October 2022, activists targeted Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery, and one month later, campaigners glued themselves to Goya paintings in Madrid's Prado museum.
This incident at the Louvre serves as a reminder of the powerful intersection between art, activism, and environmental concerns, sparking conversations about the delicate balance between preserving cultural treasures and addressing pressing societal issues.
