Change Through Performance: The Impacts of Physical Yet Non-Violent Protesting

This paper explores the impact of non-violent physical protests targeting public spaces, historic structures, and prolific art pieces without causing direct harm to people. Focusing on the international activist group A22 Movement, it examines their unique approach of using eye-catching, non-permanent visuals through throwing paint or food to create obstructions that provoke public attention. Looking closely at key examples such as the defacing of the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers, this paper dives into thetheatrical and performance-based nature of these protests and the discourse they stir both in person and online. The paper draws parallels between key elements of A22 Movement’s protests and historic events like the Boston Tea Party, highlighting their shared use of striking visuals and the power of spectacle to raise public awareness and start conversations worldwide. It suggests that these non-violent physical protests and their performance-based methods are reshaping the culture of protesting, and may become more common in the following years.