In October 2022 activists from Just stop Oil threw tomato soup over the Sunflowers by van Gogh in the National Gallery in London. It was a way to call attention to the climate crisis that could not be missed.
“What is worth more, art or life? 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?”
One climate protestor has stated he was inspired by AI WeiWei’s destroying a Ming Vase, and that “politics will always follow culture, so it’s absolutely vital that we hold the ideals of our cultural institutions to account.” The actions were meant to be provocative and draw (media) attentions, but also targeted museums because they are often financed by big oil money.
The institutions have denounced these actions, understandably. But what I have been missing in the reactions is a recognition of how urgent and how big a deal the climate crisis is, in the reactions of the museum directors and the cultural establishment. Why is there no attempt to address and discuss and highlight the problem in the cultural institutions that are being attacked?
I propose the following artwork for the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam: #juststopoil: a black square window sticker, based on the black square by Malevitch, stuck on the glass covering the painting Sunflowers by van Gogh.
It could and should be used to signal the awareness of the gravity of the climate crisis, and a trigger for reflections and discussions on tackling the climate crisis.
I admit the idea builds on my work Victory over the sun and me thinking about how else to deploy the window sticker Malevitch idea in a context that would be congruent with the gravitas of the black square and its art history importance. But I do think art institutions should take it upon themselves to initiate awareness and discussion with and towards the public on the threat that is climate change.
PS this works so well on the van Gogh because it has just the right measurements for it.
Of course the concept can be applied to any work, as long as it is minimal 54 x 54 cm. Which surprisingly a lot of famous works, also the ones that have been targeted, are not. Many famous paintings are much smaller.
The Girl with the pearl earring by Vermeer for example, would be covered completely, and could just as well be painted completely black:
This would work tbut that might just be my preoccupation with monochromes and my fascination with monochromasters.