Greenpeace Activists Unleash Massive Anish Kapoor Artwork BUTCHERED on North Sea Gas Platform

Anish Kapoor’s ‘BUTCHERED’ and Greenpeace’s Bold Statement

• Artist: Anish Kapoor brought his distinctive vision to a Greenpeace campaign, creating a single, original artwork for the event.

• Purpose: Designed specifically for protest, the piece intensified the visual impact of Greenpeace’s message.

• Historic Milestone: It stands as the first fine‑art installation on a live fossil‑fuel platform, marking a new intersection between art and activism.

For a deeper look into the impact of this collaboration, explore how art can amplify environmental advocacy and challenge industry norms.

Greenpeace’s Bold Statement: Sculptor Anish Kapoor’s Canvas Storms North Sea Platform

Art Meets Activism on the High Seas

On a crisp Wednesday morning, seven daring Greenpeace climbers climbed onto a Shell-operated offshore gas platform 45 nautical miles from the Norfolk coast. There they unveiled a monumental 12‑by‑8‑meter canvas created by renowned sculptor and visual artist Anish Kapoor.

From Steel to Scarlet

With precise grace, the activists secured the large canvas to the platform’s steel framework and sprayed it with 1,000 litres of a vivid blood‑red liquid. In just ten minutes, the fabric was transformed into a dramatic crimson spectacle, leaving an unforgettable scar that will now rest against the North Sea’s stark backdrop.

Impact & Intent

Beyond the striking visual effect, the act serves as a powerful environmental protest. By painting the platform’s canvas, Greenpeace seeks to spotlight the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels and stir public consciousness about climate change.

• Seven Greenpeace climbers scaled a Shell gas platform.
• Platform located 45 nautical miles off Norfolk.
• Canvas dimensions: 12 m by 8 m.
• 1,000 litres of blood‑red liquid applied.
• The performance lasted 10 minutes.

Greenpeace Activist Unveils ‘BUTCHERED’ – A Visual Protest with Bio‑Readable Blood‑Like Substance

The Living Liquid

In a striking display, a Greenpeace activist sprayed a biodegradable mixture onto a canvas during a public demonstration. The substance, shaped to resemble blood, was composed of seawater, powdered beetroot, organic decaf coffee granules, and a food‑based pond dye. When the media recorded the event, a video showcased the transparent solution flowing into the ocean.

The Public Release

• Greenpeace’s social media channels shared the footage, highlighting the vivid contrast against the sea.
• Commentary was archived on the organization’s Instagram account.

‘BUTCHERED’: Symbolic Statement

The artwork, titled ‘BUTCHERED’, was designed to represent the profound damage the fossil‑fuel sector has inflicted upon our planet. The NGO emphasized that this piece underscores the relentless pursuit of profit that continues to harm people and ecosystems worldwide.

Artistic Insight

Anish Kapoor, renowned for large‑scale public installations, crafted the original protest piece. He described it as “physical, visceral” and a “visual scream.” Kapoor added:

“‘BUTCHERED’ is also a tribute to the courageous work of those who oppose this destruction, and to the tireless activists who choose to disrupt, disagree, and disobey.”

Anish Kapoor Joins Greenpeace’s Polluters Pay Pact

First Fine Art Installation on an Active Fossil Fuel Platform

In a groundbreaking move, acclaimed sculptor Anish Kapoor has collaborated with Greenpeace on a high‑profile project that marks the first fine‑art piece placed directly on a working fossil fuel platform. This initiative showcases art as a powerful tool for environmental advocacy.

Key Highlights of the Collaboration

• Historic Placement: The canvas becomes the inaugural fine‑art installation on an operating oil or gas facility, symbolizing a bold statement against environmental exploitation.
• Polluters Pay Pact: Kapoor actively supports this global Greenpeace initiative, urging oil, coal, and gas companies to take responsibility for the climate damages they cause.
• Dialogue with Activists: The project involved candid discussions between Kapoor and Greenpeace activists, fostering a deeper understanding of art’s role in climate activism.
• Public Impact: By blending high-calibre sculpture with environmental activism, the project raises public awareness and encourages tangible corporate accountability.

Implications for the Art and Environmental Communities

The partnership between Kapoor and Greenpeace demonstrates how artistic expression can influence policy discussions, revealing new avenues where creative endeavors and ecological commitments intersect. This collaboration may inspire further integrations of artistic projects within industrial settings to advance global environmental goals.

‘Butchered’ Announces First Fine‑Art Piece at an Active Offshore Gas Facility

Greenpeace Partners with Artist to Highlight Climate Impact

The sculpture ‘Butchered’ became the pioneering fine‑art installation within a functioning offshore oil and gas platform. Its presence signals a bold statement about the environmental footprint of fossil fuel extraction.

Artist Narendra Kapoor has a history of climate advocacy. In 2019, he joined a group of creators to urge the National Portrait Gallery in London to cut ties with the oil conglomerate BP.

Showcase Amidst Europe’s Scorching Heatwaves

Greenpeace carried out the installation during one of Europe’s most intense summer heatwaves. Senior campaigner Philip Evans of Greenpeace UK remarked:

“Extreme weather is impacting us directly, yet the extraction of fossil fuels that drives the crisis often stays out of sight. This artwork demands that the damage be seen right where it begins.”

Key Highlights

• First fine‑art piece placed inside an operational offshore gas site.
• Designed by artist Narendra Kapoor.
• Visual confrontation of the oil and gas industry’s environmental harm.

This initiative underscores the urgent need for visibility and accountability in the energy sector, turning a remote extraction site into a stage for climate consciousness.