In a bold act of climate activism, two women staged a protest at the Louvre Museum in Paris by hurling a bowl of orange soup at Leonardo da Vinci's iconic Mona Lisa. Fortunately, the renowned artwork was unscathed, thanks to the bulletproof glass that has shielded it since an acid attack in the 1950s.
The protesters managed to bypass the museum's stringent security measures, breaching the perimeter around the painting and standing defiantly next to it with their hands raised in a symbolic gesture. Their action posed a critical question in French: "Which is more vital - the preservation of art or the fight for a viable, healthy food system?" They criticized the current state of agriculture, labeling it as ailing.
Security personnel at the Louvre swiftly intervened, escorting the activists away. The method by which they smuggled the soup into the museum remains a mystery.
One of the demonstrators wore a shirt emblazoned with "Riposte Alimentaire" (Food Response), signifying their affiliation with the A22 coalition. This group encompasses various environmental and protest organizations, including Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, known for their dramatic protests involving gluing themselves to artworks and throwing food at them in galleries.
This latest incident involving the Mona Lisa coincides with widespread demonstrations by French farmers protesting low pay and new eco-friendly regulations they claim are detrimental. These protests have included road blockades across France.
Jean Dubreil
| ArtMajeur Magazine