Destructive Just Stop Oil Protests

[Emeralds]

Reading the news today about 2 Just Stop Oil protestors hitting the Rokeby Venus painting by Velasquez at the National Gallery after their "protests" disrupting Les Miserables, Romeo and Juliet, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Wimbledon, etc is making me really cross. That's not activism- that's criminal damage. Yes, the actual painting is covered by glass,  but smashing the glass can still potentially tear the canvas. 

 

I know many fellow members have expressed their fury ages ago and I concur- whether you offer compensation to theatregoers or visitors is not the point. That could have been someone's only chance to see the musical or opera or indeed the Velasquez etc etc after spending years saving up for a treat, or travelling long distances to visit the UK as a tourist and saving up for visas, travel and a hotel room. And before JSO activists get on their high horse about tourists taking planes, many pay more to take the Eurostar to London or cross the sea in an electric car on the ferry from France or Ireland. Many Glyndebourne and theatregoers take the train and/or bus and walk. Not everyone there uses heaps of fossil fuels.

 

I also say this as someone who has made expensive changes to my lifestyle and taken decisions that forced me to work harder/longer hours just to reduce my carbon footprint and fossil fuel usage, so it gets me really cross when they do destructive stuff like this that really has no benefit to the planet nor positive effects on climate change. In fact, fossil fuel use will go up because specialists have to come in or the painting transported to them to be fixed, and visitors may make repeat trips that they would otherwise not have done to view it when it's been fixed.. JSO seem to encourage more use of oil than the other way round. Why not a peaceful, educational and thoughtful protest by making art as some choreographers have done instead of damaging or disrupting art?  Anyway, rant over and fellow readers feel free to vent as well, or disagree. or to ignore. Thanks. 

[MJW]

6 minutes ago, Emeralds said:

Reading the news today about 2 Just Stop Oil protestors hitting the Rokeby Venus painting by Velasquez at the National Gallery after their "protests" disrupting Les Miserables, Romeo and Juliet, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Wimbledon, etc is making me really cross. That's not activism- that's criminal damage. Yes, the actual painting is covered by glass,  but smashing the glass can still potentially tear the canvas. 

 

I know many fellow members have expressed their fury ages ago and I concur- whether you offer compensation to theatregoers or visitors is not the point. That could have been someone's only chance to see the musical or opera or indeed the Velasquez etc etc after spending years saving up for a treat, or travelling long distances to visit the UK as a tourist and saving up for visas, travel and a hotel room. And before JSO activists get on their high horse about tourists taking planes, many pay more to take the Eurostar to London or cross the sea in an electric car on the ferry from France or Ireland. Many Glyndebourne and theatregoers take the train and/or bus and walk. Not everyone there uses heaps of fossil fuels.

 

I also say this as someone who has made expensive changes to my lifestyle and taken decisions that forced me to work harder/longer hours just to reduce my carbon footprint and fossil fuel usage, so it gets me really cross when they do destructive stuff like this that really has no benefit to the planet nor positive effects on climate change. In fact, fossil fuel use will go up because specialists have to come in or the painting transported to them to be fixed, and visitors may make repeat trips that they would otherwise not have done to view it when it's been fixed.. JSO seem to encourage more use of oil than the other way round. Why not a peaceful, educational and thoughtful protest by making art as some choreographers have done instead of damaging or disrupting art?  Anyway, rant over and fellow readers feel free to vent as well, or disagree. or to ignore. Thanks. 

 

I can't think of something less likely to aid a cause than this. Who on hearing the news would suddenly be converted and join the "cause". The same applies to those who damaged the Wellington Arch with paint or who threw powder over one the exhibits at the National History Museum.  I hope the fines cover the cost of repair and clean (and then multiply by 10).

[postie]

They seem to attract more publicity than 100,000 people marching through the West End every Saturday at the moment.

Edited November 6, 2023 by postie

[trog]

I am completely against Damaging works of art (even Tracey Emin's bed 1), but I think disrupting events such as Wimbledon or the snooker is fine. Peaceful protests are rarely effective. Don't forget the Suffragettes employed extreme measures, and are now lauded as heroines. Instead of gluing themselves to the road, JSO would have more impact if they glued themselves to an MP or two.

 

 

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cai_Yuan_and_Jian_Jun_Xi

[Ondine]

35 minutes ago, trog said:

Don't forget the Suffragettes employed extreme measures

 

Indeed they did. 

 

On 10th March 1914, a former Fine Arts student, Canadian-born Mary Richardson (c.1882 – 1961) entered the National Gallery with a butcher’s knife hidden in her sleeve and attacked Velasquez’ Rokeby Venus, in order to “destroy the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history”. Before being evacuated onto Trafalgar Square, she could slash the painting about 5 times.

 

https://womensarttours.com/slashing-venus-suffragettes-and-vandalism/

 

 

 

[Sim]

Hi everyone.  Much as I am tempted to do so, I will say nothing about this matter.  Last time I did I got a nasty comment from a member, which another member liked.  I could have continued the debate but chose not to as this is not the place.

 

I am sure that we all feel strongly about what is happening around us at the moment, but could we please keep this forum to matters pertaining directly to ballet and dance.  Of course we welcome any information that can help people navigate their way around London whilst protests are taking place, but can we please avoid political discussion here.  Thank you for your co-operation. 

 

The mods have decided to lock this thread to avoid further debate/discussion.