Indigenous rights activists from Disrupt Burrup Hub vandalize Fredrick McCubbin’s Down on His Luck

Indigenous rights activists have attempted to vandalize an iconic Australian painting to protest the chemical damage a large corporation is inflicting on indigenous rock art.

Ceramic artist Joana Partyk and Ballardong Noongar man Desmond Blurton sprayed a Woodside logo on Fredrick McCubbin’s painting Down on His Luck at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth on Thursday.

A cameraman filmed Partyk painting the logo on the famous piece while Blurton placed an indigenous flag on the ground in front of them.

The Art Gallery of Western Australia told Daily Mail Australia that the painting was covered by a piece of perspex and was not damaged during the protest.

“As I stand here today, a work of art that is sacred to our people is being destroyed,” Blurton said as Partyk stuck his hand against the gallery wall.

Woodside is running the largest fossil fuel project in Australia, they are destroying ancient rock art.

We do not demand industry in the Burrup. We must protect our cultural heritage and work hard now.’

The Burrup Peninsula, 850 km southwest of Broome, is home to one of the largest collections of indigenous rock art in Australia.

However, it is also home to the Karratha Gas Plant, owned by Woodside, which produces liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The couple were protesting against the Woodside liquefied natural gas plant on the Burrup Peninsula, home to a large collection of ancient indigenous rock art (above)

Partyk sprayed Woodside’s logo on the iconic painting (above), which is estimated to be worth $3 million, while Blurton placed an indigenous flag in front of them.

Disrupt Burrup Hub protesters believe that Woodside’s presence in Burrup threatens both the indigenous culture of the area and the environment.

“This painting is barely 100 years old, we have 50,000 year old artwork that Woodside is destroying,” Blurton said.

Partyk followed Blurton’s speech with one of his own, saying that Woodside is threatening “Australia’s oldest and most important art gallery”.

“We know that the Woodside Burrup facility will emit six billion tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) by 2070.

Woodside likes to put their logo on everything as they spray their toxic emissions onto the sacred rock art.

‘We must stop more industry in Burrup, or soon there will be no art left.’

Blurton (left) said the Down on His Luck painting is “barely 100 years old” and accused Woodside of destroying “50,000-year-old art.”

Security approached the couple as the video ended. It is not yet known if they were charged in the incident.

sydney 2GB Radio host Deborah Knight criticized protesters for vandalizing an iconic piece of Australian art, estimated to be worth $3 million.

‘Why can’t they just leave art alone?’ he said.

‘Unbelievable, the vandals attack again’.