Posted on 02/13/2024 7:35:27 AM PST by Red Badger
“This spring will be the only one we have left if we don’t react,” said activists who targeted the protective glass on Monet’s “Le Printemps.”
Ilona and Sophie of Riposte Alimentaire standing beside Claude Monet’s “Le Printemps” (1880) after souping it on Saturday, February 10 (image courtesy Riposte Alimentaire via Flickr) Just two weeks after souping the protective glass covering the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, Riposte Alimentaire (“Food Counterattack”) took to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon for another demonstration targeting Claude Monet’s “Le Printemps” (1880) on Saturday, February 10. At around 3:30pm local time, two young protesters splashed cans of chunky soup on the glass and decorative frame of the French Impressionist’s springtime composition, stressing the urgency of the climate situation with a particular focus on the future of food access and agricultural labor.
“This spring will be the only one we have left if we don’t react,” the two demonstrators, identified as Ilona and Sophie, said in unison after splashing the painting. “What will our future artists paint? What will we dream of if there is no more spring?”
The Lyon museum did not immediately respond to Hyperallergic‘s request for comment, but a spokesperson informed French media outlet Le Monde that it would file a complaint for vandalism and that the two demonstrators were arrested onsite. Hyperallergic has contacted Lyon police for confirmation of the arrests.
VIDEOS AT LINK................
Ilona, 20, provided a video statement about her involvement with the action on Riposte Alimentaire’s X account. “As a student, I would like to not have to miss class to participate in actions, but for me it is essential to act — to not close our eyes in the face of the current situation, in the face of government inaction,” she said.
Lyon’s Mayor Grégory Doucet acknowledged the demonstration on X, lamenting the group’s tactics though noting that its “anxiety is legitimate” in the face of a climate emergency. “We respond to it with resolute action,” Doucet said.
It’s not the first time climate protesters have thrown food at a Monet painting: In October 2022, two demonstrators affiliated with the German climate awareness group Letzte Generation splattered Monet’s “Grainstacks” (1890) with runny mashed potatoes before gluing their hands beneath the painting’s display at the Barberini Museum in Potsdam.
No Soup For You Ping!.........................
I love Monet’s paintings. Make them pay for the restoration.
For the love of Monet is the root of all evil....................
Why don’t they ever do this to modern art?
Nobody would notice.....................
Go on their social media, and write…
”Nice try, but that’s only a 6.7 out of 10. First of all. The split pea soup has a high carbon footprint. It TOTALLY negates your cause. Second, split pea compliments the Monet, and further detracts from your message. Third, you are just standing there, and not really committed to the cause. Parenthetically, your shirts are bush league.
”In contrast, the guy who set himself aflame in NYC a few years ago, now THAT was a 10 performance. I mean, he’s dead now. But his carbon footprint is nil; these are the tough choices your lot has to make.
”I really need you to go back and think long and hard about your commitment to the cause. Otherwise, you’re just white noise.”
WTF are they protesting???
Can’t buy me love.
Climate change...................
Can’t buy a Monet, either................
“Why don’t they ever do this to modern art?”
Because a lot of modern art ALREADY looks like somebody puked on it
Why did the art thief’s van run out of gas as he drove away from the museum?
Because he had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh ;)
Of course, those morons are messing with the CO2 in the poor climate. Making those t-shirts isn’t ruining the climate. Think of the energy used in making that canned soup and they just wasted it. A shame they probably drove in a fossil fueled vehicle to the store to buy the soup, to another store to buy the shirts and paint and drove to the museum. Now, the museum will have to order some special chemical cleaner and the shipping/delivery will use even more fossil fuel. Then there’s all the reporters driving around to get pictures and interviews.
That is so “yesterday”...They need to find something new to protest...
Wonder how many miles to the gallon they get with their new EVs?????
Their shirts translate to “food repost” so either that doesn’t translate well or it is just stupid. I’m going with stupid.
I deserved that LOL!
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