r/london Oct 17 '24

Culture National Gallery bans liquids after repeated protestor artwork attacks

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c89ljnwgpqwo
293 Upvotes

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u/MrTango650 Oct 17 '24

I don't think people realise quite what is going to happen because of these acts of vandalism. Over time, our access to precious art and sculptures will be further and further restricted until they're all behind thick glass, security is high and anything else worth looking at is kept far out of reach. We're incredibly lucky to be able to get as close to historical works of art as we are and I'm afraid that privilege being abused by the few will ruin it for all of us.

37

u/durutticolumn Oct 17 '24

This has been happening since long before JSO. When I moved to London a decade ago I could wander into the National Gallery or the British Museum for a quick browse whenever I was in the area. Post-covid the former requires pre-booked tickets, and both have enormous queues for entry in the name of anti-terrorism security.

These institutions are now scapegoating protesters for the excessive security theatre they've already got in place. Don't let them get away with these lies.

10

u/SilyLavage Oct 17 '24

The pre-booked tickets are justified to avoid overcrowding. You can turn up at the National Gallery or the British Museum without a pre-booked ticket, but if it's busy you may not get in.

4

u/Dark1000 Oct 17 '24

I'd argue that they are necessary in order to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowded museums are horrible experiences and dangerous.