From BZ/dpa
The series of protests by climate activists in museums and other cultural institutions has now reached the Prado in Madrid.
Two young people glued themselves to the frames of two famous paintings by Spanish master Francisco de Goya there on Saturday. The most important museum in the Spanish capital criticized the action and announced on Sunday that the affected hall had been reopened to the public.
“We reject that cultural heritage is endangered by its use as a means of protest,” said the Museo Nacional del Prado. During the protest on Saturday, only the frames were slightly damaged after an initial check. The Spanish Minister of Culture, Miquel Iceta, also condemned “the act of vandalism”, which “cannot be justified by anything”.
Two police officers stand in front of the Prado Museum Photo: picture alliance/dpa/EUROPA PRESS
The activists glued themselves to the frames with one hand each. Previously, a sticker on the wall between the paintings had written “+ 1.5 C”, as was also seen on video images. The Paris climate agreement of 2015 stipulates the goal of stopping global warming at 1.5 degrees if possible and thus preventing the worst consequences of climate change.
“This is jeopardizing our food safety,” the young man shouted. The two young people wore shirts that said Futuro Vegetal (Plant Future). This group claims to be fighting the climate crisis by advocating agriculture that uses only plant-based products. The news agency Europa Press, citing the authorities, wrote that the two activists were “taken away without any problems” by the police. Further information was not known for the time being.
In Germany and other European countries, too, activists glued themselves to paintings or sprayed food on them before the 27th World Climate Conference, which opened in Egypt on Sunday, such as in the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, where mashed potatoes were thrown at a Monet painting. None of the paintings had been damaged because they were protected by glass.