I thought religious wars were rural modes of atavism from the past. I was wrong.

Nevertheless, I still don’t think people should behead statues or slash paintings to prove an argument.

Suffragist Mary Richardson’s desperate and symbolic act was and is a radical and profound cultural critique of the patriarchal status quo. JUST STOP OIL’s ‘creative’ activism is pure media opportunism, juvenile, and inconsequential. Taking these acts of vandalism and propaganda as creative performances is halfway to importing someone else’s civil war into artistic praxis. This anti-art and anti-culture (in essence, Nazi) drift is currently tearing the world’s creative community apart under the dense fog of counter-information produced by Hamas’ war against Israel. We’ll see how we get out of this.

Dan Harvey (an artist I appreciate dearly) wrote to me:

You’re so wrong in my eyes – in every JSO art protest nothing has actually really been damaged – unlike what is happening to our planet – wildlife – and future. Think every little bit of activism is a step in the right direction … 😉

My reply:

NYT — Climate Protesters Damage a Celebrated Velázquez Painting in London
For over a year, climate activists in Britain have performed stunts in museums to draw attention to their cause. They’ve often damaged frames, and now appear to have damaged a painting, too.

AP — Just Stop Oil said the protesters hammered the glass panel, then told people at the gallery: “Women did not get the vote by voting. It is time for deeds, not words.”

Dan Harvey wrote to me:

…and if climate colapse damages the whole of our society – isnt it better to try to raise awareness? Do you believe we are now heading towards a point of no return? If not – can you tell me why not ? And perhaps share some links … everyone should be aloud to have there own view though

My reply:

I am not sure that we (humans and the rest of the living world) will be extinct soon. You can play with opposite statistics on this subject. What I know is that each one of us will be dead sooner or later, and the end of the world happens every day for millions of living entities and about 160 thousand humans. The number of human deaths is growing with demographics. More than 120 million people will die per year around the year 2100. These are facts. The good news is that the human growth rate peaked around 1964. And the world human birth rate peaked in 1990. This means the human population will peak around 2080 or a bit later. Until then, we certainly should stop consuming so much of everything. I believe, though, that we can discuss these issues without slashing beautiful artworks. I don’t like media terrorism. Best wishes.