Who are Hanan and Harrison? Just Stop Oil activists destroy $90 million Rokeby Venus painting
Two protesters, both in their twenties affiliated with the Just Stop Oil movement, took direct action by targeting the historic painting previously vandalized by suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914, according to a statement from the group. At approximately 10:45 am (1045 GMT), Hanan, 22, and Harrison, 20, employed safety hammers to shatter the protective glass…
Two protesters, both in their twenties affiliated with the Just Stop Oil movement, took direct action by targeting the historic painting previously vandalized by suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914, according to a statement from the group. At approximately 10:45 am (1045 GMT), Hanan, 22, and Harrison, 20, employed safety hammers to shatter the protective glass covering the artwork known as the Rokeby Venus. Their actions were carried out as part of the group’s demand for a complete cessation of new oil and gas projects in the United Kingdom.
Addressing the gallery’s onlookers, the two activists declared, “Women did not get the vote by voting; it is time for deeds not words. It is time to Just Stop Oil.” This act of defiance aimed to draw a parallel between their climate justice advocacy and the historic suffragette movement.
Who are Hanan and Harrison?
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the two individuals associated with Just Stop Oil had been apprehended for causing criminal damage to the artwork. They also reported the vandalism of the painting’s protective glass.
Hanan, a London-based student, explained her motivation, stating, “Over 100 years ago, the suffragette Mary Richardson attacked the Rokeby Venus portrait for the unjust imprisonment of Emmeline Pankhurst. Today I have used similar methods in the fight for climate justice.”
The National Gallery responded by noting that the pair had seemingly used what appeared to be emergency rescue hammers to strike the protective glass. This prompted the evacuation of the room housing the artwork, which will now be removed from display for examination by conservators.
The Rokeby Venus, created between 1647 and 1651, portrays the goddess Venus reclining on a bed while gazing into a mirror held by her son Cupid. It holds historical significance not only as a work of art but also due to the suffragette protests in 1914 when Mary Richardson inflicted seven slashes upon it, all of which were subsequently repaired.
Just Stop Oil protesters have been involved in ongoing demonstrations across the UK, frequently disrupting traffic and interfering with various sporting and cultural events. Their previous actions also targeted the National Gallery when, in the prior year, protesters affixed their hands to the frame of the painting “The Hay Wain” by English artist John Constable as an act of protest.
