In mid-October, two activists threw tomato soup at a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh. The damage that occurs is manageable, but the attention is great. Musician and “Live Aid” initiator Bob Geldof now shows understanding for the much-discussed action.
Irish rock musician and environmentalist Bob Geldof says he understands the tomato soup thrown at a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh in London. “The climate activists are 1000 percent right, and I support them 1000 percent,” the 71-year-old told Radio Times.
It was smart to throw tens of millions of euros at the Sunflowers painting, knowing it was protected by a pane of glass. “It’s offensive to destroy van Gogh’s genius. It’s useless,” Geldof said. But the action was just annoying. “And annoying is all right.”
On October 14, two activists from the organization Just Stop Oil threw the contents of two cans of tomato soup at the picture of the Dutch artist in the National Gallery in London. “What is worth more, art or life?” asked one of the women. The frame of the painting is said to have been damaged during the action. They are therefore accused of property damage.
The two environmental activists, aged 20 and 21, had to answer to a London court after the action and pleaded “not guilty”. The judge released her on bail until the trial, which is scheduled to begin in December. However, the two are not allowed to enter galleries or museums and are not allowed to carry paint or glue in public places.
Bob Geldof has also said he was recently stopped by protesters organized by Extinction Rebellion while driving through London. The Boomtown Rats frontman said he was totally pissed off. “But I wasn’t railing against them. I was like, ‘If I were 18, would I be there? And the answer is yes.’ Geldof emphasized: “You don’t kill anyone. Climate change does.”
(This article was first published on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.)
