Just Stop Oil climate activists glue themselves to painting at National Gallery

A pair of climate activists have glued themselves to a 200-year-old painting at the National Gallery.

It is the latest in a series of protests by the climate group Just Stop Oil to highlight the country’s reliance on gas and oil.

The two activists from Brighton said they were demanding an end to all new oil and gas projects in the UK immediately. 

Just Stop Oil said it targeted the National Gallery because it had “no choice but to continue to target major cultural events and locations in order to gain attention for the biggest crime against humanity”.

It added: “A proportionate step would be for the gallery to close it doors, and for the staff to join us on the streets until the Government agrees to this demand.”

The activists glued themselves to a painting by Romance-era painter John Constable, called the Hay Wain, which depicts an English countryside scene.

The activists covered the painting with a re-imagined version, that showed planes in the sky, polluting factories in the background and dead trees.

One of the activists, Hannah Hunt, 23 a psychology student from Brighton, said: “I’m here because our Government plans to licence 40 new UK oil and gas projects in the next few years.

“You can forget our ‘green and pleasant land’ when further oil extraction will lead to widespread crop failures which means we will be fighting for food.

“Ultimately, new fossil fuels are a death project by our Government. So yes there is glue on the frame of this painting but there is blood on the hands of our Government.”

Eben Lazarus, 22, a music student from Brighton, said: “We have covered the Hay Wain with a reimagined version that illustrates the impact of our addiction to fossil fuels on our countryside.

“The painting is an important part of our heritage, but it is not more important than the 3.5 billion men, women and children already in danger because of the climate crisis.”

A spokeswoman for the National gallery said: “At around 2.15pm this afternoon two people entered Room 34 of the National Gallery and appeared to glue themselves to the frame of The Haywain by John Constable (1821).  

“They also covered the surface of the painting with three sheets of what appears to be paper featuring a reimagined version of The Hay Wain.  

“The pair appear to be Just Stop Oil activists. The Room has been closed to the public and police have been called. Gallery staff – including members of the Conservation team – are also in attendance.” 

Just Stop Oil activists Hannah Hunt and Eben Lazarus glue themselves to john Constable’s Hay Wain (Picture: Just Stop Oil)