"There will be no scream when people die!", Heard those present who this Friday contemplated an icon of universal painting and a benchmark of expressionism: The scream, by Edvard Munch, which in the eyes of three activist women symbolizes concern , and also anger, due to the inaction of governments and society in the fight against climate change.
The activists, belonging to the environmental group Stop Oil Exploration, have been arrested after sticking glue to Munch's work in the National Museum in Oslo, in protest against
Norwegian oil activity.
The demonstrators assured in a statement that with their actions against the famous painting they intended to appeal to the population and pressure the Norwegian government to change its oil and gas export policy. Norway is by far the largest oil producer in Western Europe and is facing growing criticism for its exploitation of the fuel.
The activists chose Munch's masterpiece, which dates from 1893 and has become an iconic figure of existential angst. It represents the face of a child who holds his head in his hands, and seems to scream and express horror.
The police have communicated, on their Twitter account, that the painting has not been damaged thanks to the glass case that protects it and that the museum's security guards have helped in the arrest.
Two of the activists left traces of glue on the canvas covering, while the third filmed the scene and shouted at the same time that "there will be no scream when people die" or "no scream when politicians ignore science", according to The Norwegian news agency (NTB) has reported.
On behalf of the Norwegian Government, the Minister of Culture, Anette Trettebergstuen, has declared that "this is an unacceptable form of action. Although many of us support the climate fight as one of the most important of our time, attacking priceless art does not help to nothing to the cause."
The scream joins the list of works of art that have been vandalized in recent weeks. Goya's Majas in the Prado, Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup on display in Australia, Pablo Picasso's Massacre in Korea on display in Melbourne, Van Gogh's Sunflowers in London and the piece belonging to Claude Monet's Haystacks series in Potsdam are some of the examples of these assaults against pieces of art.
