‘Campbell’s Soup I’ in Australia has become the latest victim of “art disruption tactics” by climate activists
Eco-activists from a new campaign group calling themselves Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies (StopFFS) vandalized Andy Warhol’s famous ‘Campbell’s Soup I’ at Australia’s National Gallery in Canberra on Tuesday. The incident is the latest action in a recent trend that has seen climate change protesters targeting famous artwork in Europe and beyond.
“Andy Warhol depicted consumerism gone mad in this iconic series. And now we have capitalism gone mad,” one of the activists, Bonnie Cassen, said after gluing her hand to the pop art masterpiece. The painting is protected by a glass frame and was thus not damaged.
According to the protester, described by StopFFS as “a mother of three and battling incurable cancer,” families are forced to choose between medicine and food for their children “while fossil fuel companies return record profits.”
“And yet our government gives $22,000 a minute in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry,” Cassen claimed.
Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies is highlighting the danger of capitalism by glueing onto Andy Warhol. Art depicting consumerism gone mad. While Australians starve, Government pays $22,000 a minute to subsidise fossil fuels. #StopFFS #Auspol #Cop27 #ClimateCrisis #FireproofAustralia pic.twitter.com/acSbRO1mWs
— Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidies (@stopffsubsidies) November 9, 2022
The gallery said in a statement quoted by the local media that it was assessing the incident “in cooperation with the Australian Federal Police,” but would not comment further.