(Photo : Unsplash / Jean Carlo Emer)
To grab the attention and to prove their point of view, two Riposte Alimentaire activists stepped up as the Louvre Museum in Paris, aiming at the famous Eugène Delacroix's painting named "Liberty Leading the People". Wednesday witness to the protest whose protesters stuck a pre-printed sticker with the slogan "resisting is vital" to the newly painted masterpiece. Emblazoned with A Riposte Alimentaire on their white t-shirts, the protesters shouted for social security displayed in healthy foods approaches and chanted slogans. The militant action of the community in this election demonstrates their stance of "just" access to the local farm products which contributes to their bigger mission of changing the agricultural practices and ensuring that farmers maintain their dignified living standards.
Activists Protest at the Louvre
The two members called Riposte Alimentaire stole the news tabloid in the Louvre Museum, Wednesday, when they targeted the historical picture, Liberty Leading the People, by Eugène Delacroix.
Stickers on Masterpiece
Video and images circulated on social media depict the activists applying stickers with the slogan "resisting is vital" around the recently restored painting. Clad in white t-shirts bearing the group's name, Riposte Alimentaire, the protesters chanted slogans advocating for social security in sustainable food practices.
Riposte Alimentaire's Cause
Riposte Alimentaire, also known as Food Response or Food Counterattack, advocates for a sustainable supply of healthy food for all. Their proposals include monthly food cards, agricultural model transformations, and ensuring a dignified life for farmers.
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Larger Protest Movement
The group is part of a broader coalition of protest organizations called the A22 movement, which includes Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil. Those people acquire a sparkling reputation for unorthodox methods, such as sticking themselves to artistic mementos and tossing gastronomic products and paint with the most famous artworks in museums.
Legal Consequences
The two demonstrators, after the demonstration, face the accusation of "intentional damage" and a representative of the museum has submitted a claim. In spite of their concern, a saying from the Louvre's spokesperson was a consolation that the painting remained undamaged.
Liberty Leading the People
In the year 1830, Liberty Leading the People was one of the outstanding paintings which the museum displayed. Presently, however, the painting has been restored, and it was shown to the audience the previous night on the 2nd of May. It is not only the art masterpiece but also the painting of cultural significance worth recognition as one of the Louvre's most well-known work following Mona Lisa.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time Riposte Alimentaire has targeted artworks in protest. In February, they were involved in a protest at the Musée de Beaux-Arts, where activists threw soup at Claude Monet's Le Printemps. In January, similar actions were taken at the Louvre, where the Mona Lisa was targeted.
The protest at the Louvre underscores the ongoing debate surrounding activism and its intersection with art and cultural institutions. While the activists' actions may spark controversy, they bring attention to critical issues surrounding food sustainability and social justice.
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