I used to conserve artworks. Now I am in prison for taking climate action | Margaret Reid

It was my dream job. But what’s the point of preserving masterpieces for a future being destroyed by fossil fuel companies?

Margaret Reid is currently on remand for taking action with Just Stop Oil

I used to be part of the art world but I just can’t stomach it any more. Now I’m in prison, and it suits my conscience better. Back in the 1980s, art was my life. Aged 16, I fell head over heels for painting and could imagine nothing better than spending my life working in museums.

Looking back almost 40 years, I see my younger self, starstruck in Paris. I’m staring up with awe at Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa and greedily gobbling up the story of how it scandalised the art world. That sickening green cadaver that almost fell out of the frame had me weeping with admiration. Of course it shocked the critics. They hated the grisly truth: the emaciated corpse that was a direct challenge to government corruption and incompetence.

Margaret Reid is a former museum professional currently on remand for taking action with Just Stop Oil

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Topics

I’m 71 with $2 million in retirement savings and a conservative investment strategy. Am I doing this right?
Business - MarketWatch - 5 days ago
Miyamoto: I Am No Genius
Tech - GameSpot - November 8
‘I’m devastated she didn’t win’: I voted for Kamala Harris. Am I disloyal for taking advantage of the Trump stock-market rally?
Business - MarketWatch - November 9
‘Who do people like me turn to?’ I am 70 with absolutely no emergency or retirement savings. So now what?
Business - MarketWatch - October 31
Ally McCoist: ‘I used to have sex weekly - now it’s weakly’
World - The Guardian - 5 days ago
Batman: Arkham Shadow Review - I Am Batman
Tech - GameSpot - October 28

I used to conserve artworks. Now I am in prison for taking climate action | Margaret Reid

Topics

Related

I’m 71 with $2 million in retirement savings and a conservative investment strategy. Am I doing this right?

Miyamoto: I Am No Genius

‘I’m devastated she didn’t win’: I voted for Kamala Harris. Am I disloyal for taking advantage of the Trump stock-market rally?

‘Who do people like me turn to?’ I am 70 with absolutely no emergency or retirement savings. So now what?

Ally McCoist: ‘I used to have sex weekly - now it’s weakly’

Batman: Arkham Shadow Review - I Am Batman

More from The Guardian

US and Israel reject ICC warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest as number of countries signal they will abide by it – Middle East live

Putin says Russia fired experimental ballistic missile into Ukraine

Trump says Matt Gaetz will have ‘wonderful future’ after attorney general pick withdraws amid scrutiny – live

Merkel: I mistook Trump for ‘someone completely normal’

British lawyer is fifth person to die in suspected methanol poisoning in Laos