III. A wax figure depicting Carlos tomato soup sits in front of a Van Gogh painting while mashed potatoes scatter across a Monet. These provocative gestures have been used by various environmental groups in recent weeks to capture public attention. The climate crisis remains severe and urgent, demanding decisive action to halt its progression. For years, protests inside cultural institutions had not drawn this level of media focus. Yet does that spike indicate real effectiveness?
In a collaborative piece with EL PERIÓDICO, the podcast series on climate change and sustainability from the Prensa Ibérica group examines museum protests and their impact. What explains the surge in attention? Can a message be powerful when delivered through provocative acts that polarize opinion?
The climate emergency is also a communication challenge. The debates and the headlines generated by museum protests invite reflection on a central tradeoff for activists: is it wiser to opt for more moderate and possibly less visible actions to build broad public support, or is it sometimes necessary to take riskier, more conspicuous steps that may provoke stronger rejection but also drive attention? The balance between visibility and reception becomes a strategic question in the fight to mobilize concern and prompt action.