Eco-activists target Munch's 'The Scream' at Oslo's National Museum, prompting condemnation from museum directors
Last Friday, activists from Stop Oil Explorations attempted to affix themselves to Edvard Munch's The Scream (1893) at the National Museum in Oslo. Norwegian authorities quickly intervened, preventing their attachment and leaving adhesive marks on the protective glass; fortunately, the artwork remained unharmed, and the gallery was reopened shortly after. One protester exclaimed, "I scream when lawmakers ignore science." This incident is part of a series of similar protests involving food and glue targeting works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Warhol. Over 90 museum directors, including Laurence des Cars of the Louvre, have signed an open letter denouncing these actions. Munch's inspiration for the painting stemmed from a blood-red sunset, and it was stolen in 1994, later recovered by British police inspector Charley Hill.
Key facts
- Activists from Stop Oil Explorations targeted Edvard Munch's The Scream (1893) at Oslo's National Museum last Friday.
- Protesters attempted to glue themselves to the artwork but were stopped by Norwegian police, leaving glue traces on the glass case.
- No damage to the painting was reported, and the room reopened on Friday afternoon.
- A protester shouted, 'I scream when lawmakers ignore science,' during the incident.
- Over 90 museum directors, including Laurence des Cars, Hartwig Fischer, and Max Hollein, condemned climate protests in an open letter via the International Council of Museums.
- The Scream was stolen in 1994 and recovered by British police inspector Charley Hill posing as a Getty Museum representative.
- Munch described the painting's inspiration as a blood-red sunset that evoked an infinite scream passing through nature.
- Chloë Ashby wrote for artreview.com about Munch's visualization of life's moments with deterioration and sunken dreams.
Entities
Artists
- Edvard Munch
- Van Gogh
- Monet
- Warhol
- Chloë Ashby
- Laurence des Cars
- Hartwig Fischer
- Max Hollein
- Charley Hill
Institutions
- Stop Oil Explorations
- Oslo's National Museum
- International Council of Museums
- Louvre
- British Museum
- Met
- Getty Museum
- artreview.com
Locations
- Oslo
- Norway