Environmental activists threw maple syrup on a canvas by Emily Carr on Saturday before sticking it on a wall in the Vancouver Art Gallery. They were calling for an end to a pipeline construction project in northern British Columbia.
A spokesperson for the group Stop Fracking Around said that these activists had targeted the “Stumps and sky” painting displayed in the Vancouver museum. Don Marshall explained that this act of protest was intended to draw public attention to climate change.
“It is only to convince the public and our leaders to act against this climate emergency that Canada has declared. That’s the logic behind this move,” Marshall said.
He added that the activists were demanding that the authorities halt the ongoing Coastal Gaslink pipeline project. This infrastructure would connect Dawson Creek to Kitimat.
This event is the latest in a series of actions taken around the world by environmental activists in connection with works of art.
Demonstrators had notably thrown tomato soup on a painting by Vincent Van Gogh, in London, before sticking to the wall. In Germany, mashed potatoes had been thrown on “Les Meules” by Claude Monet.
According to Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison, a call was made to the station on Saturday afternoon to report that two women had thrown maple syrup at a canvas and stuck to the wall, while a third was filming and taking pictures.
He said no arrests have been made, but the incident will be investigated.
No Vancouver Art Gallery spokesperson was available for comment. It was not immediately clear if Emily Carr’s painting was damaged.
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