Protesters in France made a bold statement at the Louvre by throwing soup at the iconic Mona Lisa painting.
The act, orchestrated by a group called Riposte Alimentaire (“Food counterattack“), aimed to highlight the importance of “healthy and sustainable food.”
The incident involved two female protesters wearing T-shirts with the message “food counterattack.”
They tossed liquid at the glass-protected 16th-century masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, emphasizing their concern for the right to nutritious and environmentally friendly food.
In a video capturing the protest, the activists questioned the priorities of society, asking, “What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food?”
They voiced criticism of the agricultural system, stating, “Your agricultural system is sick.
Our farmers are dying at work.”
Museum security quickly responded by placing black screens in front of the protesters and evacuating the room.
Rachida Dati, France’s Minister for Culture, condemned the act, asserting that “no cause” justifies targeting the Mona Lisa, emphasizing its significance to future generations.
The group behind the protest, Riposte Alimentaire, released a statement to the AFP news agency, declaring that the soup-throwing marked the “start of a campaign of civil resistance” with the demand for the “social security of sustainable food.”
This is not the first time the Mona Lisa has faced unconventional attacks.
In 2019, an activist threw cake at the painting, urging people to “think of the Earth.”
The artwork has been safeguarded behind safety glass since the early 1950s, following an incident where a visitor damaged it with acid.
The Mona Lisa’s symbolic importance and historical value transcend such acts of protest.
However, these incidents serve as reflections of broader societal concerns, in this case, advocating for a more sustainable and secure food system.
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