Climate Activists Deface King Charles’ Portrait With 19th-Century Protest Quote
Visitors at the National Gallery of Scotland looking to view a portrait of King Charles III found themselves staring at a vandalized piece of art earlier this week.
Two members of the climate activist group This Is Rigged were behind the stunt, having spray-painted the group’s logo in neon pink across the monarch’s image.
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Alongside the graffiti “artwork” was the phrase, “the people are mightier than a lord.” As per Robb Report, the quote is attributed to the Highland Land League, a collective that staged rent strikes and land occupations in favor of peasants all the way back in the 19th century.
One of the protesters was recorded as questioning the government’s acceptance of new oil and gas projects. While gluing their hands to the floor in front of the art piece, the duo reiterated the movement’s desire to have the authorities “oppose all new oil and gas licenses.”
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The museum told the Herald Scotland it was still “assessing the impact” of the spray paint on the King’s portrait, though it seems that there isn’t any sign of damage on the actual painting.
[via Robb Report and Herald Scotland, cover image via This Is Rigged]
