Two climate change protesters have pleaded not guilty to throwing tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting in the National Gallery in London.
Footage shows two people wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts opening cans of Heinz tomato soup and spattering it on van Gogh's Sunflowers (1888) before gluing themselves to the wall.
"What is worth more? Art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?" the protesters said after the incident.
UK police said the protesters had been arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass.
The two protesters - Anna Holland, 20, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, - pleading not guilty at Westminster Magistrates' court on Saturday morning (local time) to the vandalism of the NZ$148 million 1888 Sunflowers painting.
The pair appeared in the dock together only speaking briefly to confirm their name, date of birth, address and to enter their pleas of not guilty to criminal damage to the value of less than £5,000 (NZ$10,000).
Prosecutor Ola Oyedepo said the pair threw an "orange substance" knowing there was a "protective case" over the actual painting, according to the UK's Chronicle Live.
Oyedepo added it's unclear at this stage what the value of the damage is but said it is "significantly below the £5,000 cost threshold".
The pair were released on bail by District judge Tan Irkam under the conditions they do not enter galleries or museums and do not have paint or adhesive substances in a public place.
The judge set their trial for December 13 at the City of London Magistrates' Court.
London's National Gallery confirmed the painting is now back on display, about six hours after the soup incident.
