The renowned ‘Mona Lisa’ painting, housed in Paris’ Louvre museum, has once again become the subject of an attack, this time orchestrated by climate change activists. On Sunday, two individuals affiliated with the French organization ‘Riposte Alimentaire’ sought to bring attention to environmental and food sustainability issues.
In a daring move, the activists evaded security measures to approach the protective glass in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, hurling soup at its surface. This incident marks the second attack on the ‘Mona Lisa’ within three years, following a protest in May 2022 where the painting was smothered in cream.
A video capturing the recent incident shows the activists questioning the prioritization between art and the right to a healthy and sustainable food system. Their protest aims to underscore the urgency of environmental and food source protection.
This act joins a series of climate activist actions globally targeting artworks. Previous incidents include throwing soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ in London’s National Gallery and campaigners gluing themselves to Goya paintings in Madrid’s Prado Museum.
As climate activists persist in employing such tactics, these incidents spark debates about the intersection of art, activism, and environmental concerns.
