A pair of environmental activists were arrested Friday after throwing cans of tomato soup on the Vincent Van Gogh painting "Sunflowers" which hangs in the National Gallery in London.
The activists were members of the campaign group "Just Stop Oil," and were protesting the U.K. government's oil and gas plans.
After dousing the painting in soup, the activists glued their hands to the wall after which one exclaimed, "What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?
"The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis, fuel is unaffordable to millions of cold, hungry families. They can't even afford to heat a tin of soup."
According to CNBC, the London Metropolitan Police said specialists removed the two women from the wall, and they were taken into custody after being arrested on charges of "criminal damage and aggravated trespass."
Thankfully, the painting was protected by a layer of glass and after a cleanup, was back on display in a matter of hours.
A spokesperson for the National Gallery confirmed that there was no damage to the painting, which has an estimated value of £72.5 million ($80.99 million).
