I’ve today been persuaded to support the ‘Just Stop Oil’ campaign. All it took was for two so-called ‘protestors’ to throw soup all over Van Gogh’s painting ‘Sunflowers’ and then glue themselves to the wall. Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, described in the media as “activists”, really made their point. I’ll only be angry if the soup they’ve wasted was Heinz tomato. Actually, that’s just me “having a laugh”. I’m not amused at all.
“What is worth more,” asked Phoebe. “Art or life?” Like it’s a choice between art and life. It’s just a stupid thing to say. But she goes on: ‘Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?” The absolute state of that comment.
I am no great expert on art and I know little about Van Gogh’s work, other than what people who do know more than a little about his work tell me, that basically he was a genius. I’m a little old fashioned, I know, but I rather like the fact that great works of art, and even crap ones for that matter, should be protected. I don’t think, as Phoebe and her mate seem to, that the preservation of art equates to saving the planet. Christ: if we managed to reverse climate change but allowed all forms of art to go to pot, I’m not sure it would be worth saving the planet in the first place.
Meanwhile, Alex De Koning, a Just Stop Oil spokesperson, said his organisation didn’t give a fuck about alienating people. He said: “This is not The X Factor. We are not trying to make friends here, we are trying to make change, and unfortunately this is the way that change happens.” Yes, you can see the logic there. Destroy beautiful art and soon people will be on the campaign trail to “Just Stop Oil” because that obviously works. To which I respond: bullshit.
This isn’t democracy, either. This is the exact opposite: anarchy. And it’s an attempt at mob rule from, I strongly suspect, tweet middle class ex or current students. I note that Phoebe and her pal Anna were nicked by the police today. My hope is that they will be charged and punished in such a way that they might think twice before being twats again.
Alex needs to be reminded that change doesn’t happen like this. And idiots trying to destroy great art will make it harder to bring about change, not easier.
