Montreal: Activist Throws Pink Paint at Picasso Painting – ‘No Art on a Dead Planet’

An activist from the climate group Last Generation Canada threw pink paint at a Picasso painting displayed at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Thankfully, the artwork was protected by a protective glass covering. The act was intended to draw attention to the global climate crisis. Footage shared on social media by the climate activist group shows the moment the paint is thrown at the 1901 portrait titled ‘L’hetaire’ by Pablo Picasso. A demonstrator is then seen being escorted out of the museum by security personnel. In a statement, Marcel, the 21-year-old activist who was arrested for the act, said, “Today, I am not attacking art or destroying it. I am protecting it. Art, at its core, represents life. It’s made by the living, for the living. There is no art on a dead planet.” The incident comes amid a heatwave affecting Saskatchewan and Manitoba provinces in Canada, with officials warning of increased wildfire risks this summer. The activist group questioned whether anyone would have the time, energy, or resources to create art if they were struggling for survival due to government inaction. Montreal police confirmed to The Independent that the activist was arrested and later released to appear in court on a later date. Two others who filmed the act were also detained but released without charges.