Paul Bloomer is a contemporary British artist living and working in the Shetland Islands.
I
have been moved to produce a series of images in response to proposals for
a very large wind farm in Shetland. These images are not meant to be literal
rendition of the Viking Energy project but depicts the effects of living
in the shadow of 150 giant wind turbines and their affect on the human psyche.
What should ostensibly be a traditional Shetland crofting scene has become
a nightmare scenario where animals and birds are being displaced and humans
are gradually being driven mad.
Windfarm vision 1. Woodcut. 2008. 63 x 91.5 cm
Windfarm
vision 2. Woodcut. 2008. 63 x 91.5 cm
Windy
Night. Woodcut. 2008
Migration.
Acrylic on canvas. 2008. 120 x 150 cm
Money
Counters. Woodcut. 2008
Shadow
Flicker. Woodcut. 2008
Last night as I lay down my head I dreamt a dream. In need of solace I headed for the hills and soon lost my bearings. The ancient cairn I used as a land marker was gone and in its place was a giant windmill. In need of rest I looked for a place to sit and tried to settle at the base of this great graffiti stricken rusting beast. Amongst the broken glass and beer can filth I looked around and found my self in an industrial landscape with wind turbines stretching as far as the eye can see. Suddenly I heard a truck driving up the giant road that cut into the hills , then men and boys unloaded motorbikes and screeched around the track they had made into the heather. Read full letter.
