The climate activist group Just Stop Oil has released a new t-shirt for babies, commemorating their October 2022 protest where members threw tomato soup at Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting at the National Gallery in London. The t-shirt, marketed as a "DIY Soup-It-Yourself" top, is designed for children aged six months to two years and features an image of the famous painting. Priced at £18, the shirt is humorously advertised as being “ready for soup splattering,” although it is noted that soup is not included with the purchase.
This product launch is part of a broader range of merchandise by Just Stop Oil, which includes items like temporary tattoos and a £1,500 piece of art by Peter Kennard. The group states that the profits from sales will support efforts towards securing a more sustainable future. The stunt that inspired the t-shirt involved Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, known activists within the group, who were arrested for criminal damage after their soup-throwing incident, which did not damage the painting due to protective glass.
Phoebe Plummer, who has emerged as a recognizable face of the movement, has been involved in multiple protests and was most notably arrested following the soup incident and for other related disturbances. Despite a privileged upbringing and private education, Plummer has shifted her focus to full-time activism with Just Stop Oil.