Australian climate protester spray-painted an artwork at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth. She did that last year, in January. With the help of another activist, Joana Veronika Partika applied spray paint to the painting of Frederic McCubbin. She sprayed Woodside Energy company logo. Overall, this firm has a connection to the controversial gas project in Western Australia.
Australian Climate Protester Pleaded Guilty
Joana Veronika Partika is part of the Disrupt Burrup Hub. She sprayed a yellow paint to raise awareness about environmental pollution that this company’s project can create. She pleaded guilty to destroying a Frederick McCubbin painting. Since then, she has been heavily accused. But, she is not the only one who thinks this project can be deadly to the environment.
Many other ecologists and climate activists tried to raise awareness about the dangerous implications that Scarborough project can bring. They also said It might have an effect on the centuries-old rock art at Murujuga. The museum possesses the painting since 1896. Two other activists were with her.
One of them glued himself to the wall, while another unfurled an Aboriginal flag. They were also there to protest on the behalf of the Disrupt Burrup Hub organization. Critics of this type of environmental protest claim that this activism jeopardized the $3 million painting. But, because Perspex protects it the work does not come with any damages.
Artist’s Granddaughter Defended Protesters
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What is fascinating is that the deceased artist’s granddaughter defended the protestors. “He would have laughed out loud and supported this very clever protest, which has not harmed his painting in any way and has opened an important conversation”, she said. Western Australian authorities perceived the incident differently. Partyka received a fee of $2,637 and ordered to pay the museum $4,821.08 in fines.
Partyka said the authorities confiscated her private property after she refused to hand over her electronic devices. She entered a not guilty plea to violating a court order to grant access to her data. Also, she called the raid an example of “state-sanctioned overreach”. On September 11, there will be a single-day trial.
Her case comes as climate protestors across the globe face legal consequences for their actions in art spaces. German authorities have promised a “significant” fine on the activists who glued themselves to a Rubens painting in Munich, and two Belgian activists were given prison time for a similar action involving Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring in The Hague..
