Climate protesters GLUE themselves to a 19th-century painting

Climate protesters spark fury as they GLUE themselves to a 19th-century painting and spray paint Just Stop Oil logo around museum

  • Protestors glued themselves to Horatio McCulloch’s My Heart Is In Highlands 
  • Activists spray-painted their logo on walls and floor of Kelvingrove Art Gallery
  • Group wants art institutions to join them in ‘resistance’ against climate change
  • Just Stop Oil has previously carried out climate change protests at oil terminals

Climate protesters have sparked fury after they glued themselves to the frame of a 19th-century painting in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and spray-painted their logo on the walls and floor of the building.

Demonstrators from the group Just Stop Oil, who are opposed to new oil and gas extraction, have attached themselves to Horatio McCulloch’s My Heart Is In The Highlands.

The women say they do not intend to damage the painting itself but will not move. One is sitting on a camping chair while another is standing on the other side of the artwork.

Just Stop Oil, which has previously carried out protests at oil terminals and the UK Government offices in Edinburgh, said it is calling for art institutions to join the group in ‘civil resistance’ against climate change.

After the protesters glued themselves to the painting, the area was cordoned off by gallery staff and police arrived.

One of the activists, Emma Brown, 30, a graduate from Glasgow School of Art said: ‘Art is about telling the truth and connecting to our deepest emotions. But right now, when we need them most – art institutions are failing us.’

Hannah Torrance Bright, 20, (pictured) a student from the Glasgow School of Art

Demonstrators from the group Just Stop Oil, who are opposed to new oil and gas extraction, have attached themselves to Horatio McCulloch’s My Heart Is In The Highlands

The climate protesters have glued themselves to the frame of a 19th-century painting in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and spray-painted their logo on the walls and floor of the building

She added: ‘They seem to think it’s enough to put on an exhibition about climate change rather than challenge the government’s genocidal plans to allow new oil and gas. This is unacceptable, it’s not enough to be informed as citizens, we need to be active.

‘If you are more angry about the action than about mothers dying of heat stroke in India leaving orphaned babies crying for breastmilk, or about the millions of families in the UK struggling to buy food because of fossil fuel profiteering by the rich then you need to get your priorities straight. 

‘What is more priceless? This piece of art or your children’s life? There can be no new fossil fuel projects, it’s insanity and greed.’

Hannah Torrance Bright, 20, a student from the Glasgow School of Art, said: ‘I’m an artist, I love art, but instead of spending my time making art I’m taking actions like this, spending time in and out of cells, and being punished by our legal system for begging the government to let my generation have a future. We hold these works of art sacred, but what is more sacred than life itself?

‘You should be outraged at this action – I’m outraged because I feel I have no choice but to resist the government’s genocidal plans. 

Just Stop Oil has previously carried out protests at oil terminals and the UK Government offices in Edinburgh

The women say they do not intend to damage the painting itself but will not move. One is sitting on a camping chair while another is standing on the other side of the artwork

‘Imagine how outraged you’ll feel when your loved ones are dying in extreme weather events while the government continues to protect oil companies rather than its citizens. So feel outraged, and then take action. We cannot stand by.’

Carmen Lean, 28 , an Glasgow architecture student added: ‘This landscape was painted in 1860 at the height of the highland clearances, when whole crofting communities were evicted by a new class of landlords ruthlessly pursuing their own private interests. It was only when crofters organised and resisted that they won rights.

‘Today it’s oil and gas companies who are ruthlessly pursuing their own private interests at the expense of literally everybody. They are endangering everyone. We must learn from the history of Scottish crofters on how to fight back effectively.

‘I urge anybody listening, including public institutions, professional bodies, and concerned citizens to step up and play your part. Now is not the time for complacency. Civil disobedience is scary but it is the only sane thing to do and you won’t regret it.’

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