Whether it’s gate-crashing a red carpet at Cannes or attacking an iconic painting in a well-guarded museum, climate activists have recently employed unconventional and shocking methods to bring attention to the cause. ICYMI, the Louvre museum visitors were in for a shock on Sunday as they witnessed an almost-vandalisation of the Mona Lisa.
Reportedly, a man dressed as an old lady in a wheelchair threw a piece of cake at the painting, after failing to smash the glass.
Maybe this is just nuts to me💀but an man dressed as an old lady jumps out of a wheel chair and attempted to smash the bullet proof glass of the Mona Lisa. Then proceeds to smear cake on the glass, and throws roses everywhere all before being tackled by security. 😂??? pic.twitter.com/OFXdx9eWcM
— Lukeee🧃 (@lukeXC2002) May 29, 2022
According to bystanders, the man started shouting “Think of the Earth. There are people destroying the Earth. Think about it. Artists tell you to think about the Earth. That’s why I did this,” as he was being led away by museum security.
Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece has been protected by a bulletproof glass case ever since an acid attack in 1956 damaged the lower part of the painting. So the climate activist’s stunt only managed to make a mark on the glass, leaving the painting unharmed.
The iconic Renaissance painting is one of the most valuable art pieces in the world, holding a record for the highest painting insurance valuation at nearly $900 million. This is one of the reasons why it has always been at the center of stunts like the recent cake-smearing one. In 1911, it was stolen by an employee and in 2009, a Russian woman threw a ceramic cup at it (smashing the cup, leaving the glass and the painting unharmed) after being denied French citizenship.
