Protesters make bold statement as soup thrown at da Vinci's Mona Lisa
PTC News Desk: In a daring act of civil disobedience, two climate activists targeted the iconic Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris, throwing soup at the glass shield protecting the renowned artwork. The incident occurred on Sunday, as the activists, sporting T-shirts with the inscription "FOOD RIPOSTE," advocated for a sustainable food system.
The video footage captured the two female protesters breaching security barriers to approach the Mona Lisa closely. Shouting in French, they posed a thought-provoking question: "What’s the most important thing? Art, or the right to a healthy and sustainable food?" Louvre security guards swiftly escorted them away from the protected masterpiece.
ALERTE - Des militantes pour le climat jettent de la soupe sur le tableau de La Joconde au musée du Louvre. @CLPRESSFR pic.twitter.com/Aa7gavRRc4 — CLPRESS / Agence de presse (@CLPRESSFR) January 28, 2024
The 16th Century painting, a masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the world's most celebrated artworks and is housed at the Louvre in central Paris. The painting is shielded behind bulletproof glass, ensuring its safety and preservation.
The protesters, standing in front of the glass-encased painting, declared, "What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food? Your agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work." Museum security responded by placing black screens in front of the activists before evacuating the room.
The group responsible for the protest, named Riposte Alimentaire ("Food Counterattack"), released a statement to AFP news agency. They explained that the soup-throwing incident marked the commencement of a campaign of civil resistance with a clear demand for the social security of sustainable food.
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France's Minister for Culture, Rachida Dati, condemned the act, stating that "no cause" justifies targeting the Mona Lisa. "Like our heritage, [the painting] belongs to future generations," she expressed on social media.
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This incident comes amidst recent farmer protests in Paris, where demonstrators have called for an end to rising fuel costs and simplified regulations. The Mona Lisa has been protected behind safety glass since the early 1950s, following an acid attack by a visitor. In 2019, the museum upgraded to a more transparent form of bulletproof glass to enhance the painting's protection. Notably, in 2022, an activist threw cake at the Mona Lisa as a symbolic gesture urging people to "think of the Earth."
The historic painting, famously stolen from the Louvre in 1911, continues to be a symbol of artistic and cultural significance, guarded with increased vigilance to prevent any harm or damage.
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(Inuts from agencies)
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