The National Gallery Implements Liquid Ban Amid Activist Attacks
The National Gallery has recently announced a ban on liquids in response to a series of activist attacks on its cherished artworks, including the iconic Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers. This decision marks a significant shift in the museum’s visitor policy, aimed at safeguarding both the artworks and the experience of visitors.
The London-based museum has urged attendees to bring only “minimal items” during their visits, emphasizing a restriction on “large bags.” However, exceptions will be made for essential items such as baby formula, expressed breast milk, and prescription medications. In a statement, the museum expressed its concerns, stating, “Unfortunately, we have now reached a point where we have been forced to act to protect our visitors, staff, and collection.”
The gallery highlighted a troubling trend, referencing multiple attacks on artworks since July 2022, notably including John Constable’s The Hay Wain and, of course, Sunflowers. “Such attacks have caused physical damage to the artworks, distress to visitors and staff alike, and disruption to our mission to ensure great art is available for everyone, everywhere to enjoy,” the statement continued. “Two of these attacks have happened in the last two weeks, and that is why we have taken the difficult and unfortunate decision to change the way we operate for the foreseeable future.”
Just last month, two versions of Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers were targeted with soup by activists, following the imprisonment of two others from the Just Stop Oil movement for similar actions in 2022. While the paintings themselves were unharmed, prosecutors noted that the frames sustained damage, with repairs estimated to cost up to £20,000 (€24,000).
In another recent incident, two individuals were arrested after affixing a photo depicting a bloodied mother and child from Gaza over a Picasso painting, demanding an arms embargo against Israel. This act of protest further underscores the increasing urgency surrounding the climate crisis and social justice issues.
On Wednesday, Just Stop Oil and Youth Demand extended an invitation to the National Museum Directors’ Council, proposing a meeting at the Gallery to discuss their environmental concerns. They argue that their protests are part of a long-standing tradition rooted in activism, dating back to the Suffragette movement. The groups contend that their actions, while causing minimal damage and disruption, are vital in drawing attention to the perils of global warming and the reliance on fossil fuels. “The arts are unsuccessful in refuting climate denial. Politics has failed us. Resistance is our only remaining option,” they stated in their open letter.