Activists poured oil and blood on the floor of the Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA) on Saturday.
They protested against the museum receiving 'dirty money' in sponsorship from the Total Energies Foundation which the museum will get in 2023 to restore the paints of Ruben, De Morgen reported.
"The French oil giant Total Energies has been convicted several times in recent decades for corruption, pollution and human rights violations. Total is deliberately holding back climate targets and is making excess profits thanks to the Russian invasion of Ukraine," said the activists.
At the KSMKA, the activists assembled around the sculpture 'The Misery of Job' by Ossip Zadkine. They each cried out and poured fake blood and fake oil on the white floor. Neither the walls nor the fine art was impacted.
Related News
- 'Still afraid': Rally against sexual violence in Ixelles on Thursday
- Activists glue themselves to runways at Berlin and Munich airports
Elsewhere in the museum, concerned visitors in the meantime offered to clean the floor, symbolically cleansing the museum of Total's pollution. Museum visitors were informed about the reasons behind the protest with flyers.
Unacceptable sponsorship
The KMSKA operated based on the rules of the International Council of Musems (ICOM). ICOM's charter reads that museums should consider the acceptability of accepting money from controversial companies, including weapon manufacturers or fossil fuel producers.
"The KMSKA's decision to associate with a company that puts profit before human rights and the well-being of the planet goes against this," said the activists.
They demanded that KMSKA quit its partnership with Total, as it would otherwise give Total a means to tidy up its reputation. The activists fear that the museum censorred due to the sponsorship, which traditionally contains a loyalty clause.
According to the activists, the worst aspect of the contract between KMSKA and Total was that it wasn't made public.
