Greenpeace stages blood red art on North Sea rig

Anish Kapoor sculpture installed on a working offshore platform to critique climate harm and fossil fuel extraction.

Greenpeace installs blood red artwork on North Sea gas rig

Greenpeace climbers reached the Shell Skiff gas rig in the North Sea and unfurled a 96 square metre canvas along the side. They sprayed a crimson stain using a high pressure hose. Greenpeace says the stain is blood like and is made from seawater beetroot powder and a non toxic dye. The action took place after activists boarded from the vessel Arctic Sunrise, about 45 nautical miles off the coast of Norfolk, during favorable weather conditions.

Anish Kapoor says the work titled Butchered points to the destruction of the environment and aims to draw public attention to climate breakdown. He notes a pattern of denial around who causes global warming and argues that large oil and gas companies bear major responsibility. Shell UK says safety at sea is the priority and that Greenpeace entered a restricted safety zone without permission. The company adds that the protest involved trespassing and risk to crews and other ships.

The move blends art and protest in a space usually reserved for industry. By placing a large, visible artwork on a live platform, the action forces a global audience to confront the cost of fossil fuels. The choice of a sea stage adds risk but also a stark contrast between culture and commerce. The tactic highlights a growing trend where public art is used to provoke political and policy discussion, even as it risks legal action and safety scrutiny.

This approach will fuel a broader debate about protest ethics, governance of offshore sites, and the line between art and vandalism. Supporters may praise the creativity and urgency, while critics may see it as unsafe or attention seeking. The outcome could influence how far future offshore actions go in shaping policy and corporate behavior.

Highlights

The offshore debate over art and accountability is far from over.