Climate activists throw mashed potatoes at Monet painting
- Climate activists in Europe again splattered food at fine art in protest of fossil fuels
- Members of Last Generation took credit for Sunday’s stunt at a museum in Germany
Two climate activists from the Last Generation movement flung mashed potatoes on a valuable painting by French impressionist Claude Monet at a museum in the German city of Potsdam, just outside Berlin, on Sunday.
Whether the painting from Monet’s Les Meules (Haystacks) series had sustained permanent damage still had to be investigated, said Carolin Stranz, a spokesperson for Museum Barberini.
She said the potatoes were quickly removed and the painting was protected by a glass pane.
The two activists wearing high visibility orange vests also glued themselves to the floor, with a total of four people involved in the protest.
Police spokesman Mario Heinemann said officers took two people into custody at the museum, which specialises in impressionist paintings. They are being investigated for trespassing and damage to property.
Last Generation published a video of the attack on Twitter, saying the substance thrown at the painting had been potato purée and calling on politicians to take effective measures to limit climate change.