Museum protests, first convictions come. Jail for an activist in England

The first crackdown is coming for environmental activists who glue themselves to paintings in museums or throw food at the works. Two Just Stop Oil activists who glued themselves to Vincent van Gogh ’s Blooming Peaches at London’s Courtauld Gallery last June 30 during one of the first such protests were found guilty of damaging cultural property by Westminster District Judge Neeta Minhas, the Guardian reports. Emily Brocklebanck, 24, and Louis McKechnie, 22, caused £2,000 worth of damage to the work’s 18th-century frame (older than the painting itself).

The damage was deemed permanent by the Westminster court: the frame, in fact, “cannot return to its original state,” Minhas said as he delivered the verdict. “The painting has significant, historical and artistic value and I consider significant damage. It is not minor, insignificant, temporary or trivial.”

Instead, the defense line focused on the value of the painting: attorney Francesca Cociani, who is defending the two young men, asked Karen Serres, curator of the Courtauld Gallery, whether the action did not increase the value of the painting, should the museum decide to sell it 20 or 30 years from now. “Absolutely not,” was Serres’ response, for whom an already as famous work as Van Gogh’s would not know increases in its economic value just because of the action of the two activists. Moreover, Van Gogh’s work is owned by a trust that cannot sell his works, only display them.

Brocklebanck, a student, was sentenced to 21 days probation but is under an electronic surveillance regime for six weeks. McKechnie, on the other hand, received a three-week prison sentence. McKechnie justified her gesture this way, “When it comes to protest, if you just speak out you don’t get visibility. If you glue yourself to the picture you produce a story that the media chooses to follow.” As for the damage, he said he “didn’t think” he had caused so much damage: he believed the glue could be removed without consequence. But he still defended his action: “Any good human being would agree with trying to sustain life on Earth.” Finally, a fine was also imposed on a third activist, 21-year-old Xavier Gonzales-Trimmer, who according to the indictment was responsible for distracting the janitors: the charges were dropped, but he received a financial penalty for failing to appear in court for an initial hearing.

Pictured are the two convicted activists, during the action last June

Museum protests, first convictions come. Jail for an activist in England

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