Activists from Greenpeace unveil colossal Anish Kapoor sculpture, dubbed 'MUTILATED', at North Sea oil rig site
Anish Kapoor's installation, BUTCHERED, made a powerful statement against the fossil fuel industry's role in the climate crisis. In August 2025, the artwork was installed on a Shell gas platform in the North Sea, 45 nautical miles off the Norfolk coast. The installation was a collaborative effort between Kapoor and Greenpeace activists, who physically mounted the artwork on the Shell Skiff offshore platform.
The artwork, spanning 12 meters by 8 meters, featured a canvas drenched in a blood-red liquid. This symbolized the destructive impact of fossil fuels on the planet and vulnerable communities. The performance lasted ten minutes, leaving a crimson stain on the fabric and the sea.
Kapoor, known for his activism on climate issues, joined Greenpeace's global "Polluters Pay Pact" and has previously called for London's National Portrait Gallery to sever ties with oil giant BP. He describes BUTCHERED as a "visual scream" reflecting the "butchery" inflicted on the planet and honoring activists who disrupt and dissent against environmental destruction.
BUTCHERED is a continuation of Kapoor's engagement with environmental activism through art, transforming industrial fossil fuel infrastructure into a poignant symbol of climate injustice and urgency. It is notable as the first-ever artwork installed on an active offshore fossil fuel platform, serving as a powerful reminder of the harm caused by the oil and gas industry.
Greenpeace UK senior campaigner, Philip Evans, stated, "Extreme weather is hitting close to home, but the extraction of fossil fuels driving the climate crisis is often out of sight." BUTCHERED aims to bring this issue to the forefront, highlighting the need for urgent action to combat climate change and protect the planet.
[1] Greenpeace (2025). Anish Kapoor's BUTCHERED installed on Shell gas platform in North Sea. [online] Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org/uk/news/anish-kapoors-butchered-installed-on-shell-gas-platform-in-north-sea/
[2] The Guardian (2025). Anish Kapoor's BUTCHERED installed on Shell gas platform in North Sea. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/aug/01/anish-kapoor-installs-blood-red-artwork-butchered-on-shell-gas-platform-in-north-sea
[3] BBC News (2025). Anish Kapoor's BUTCHERED installed on Shell gas platform in North Sea. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58420186
[4] The Art Newspaper (2025). Anish Kapoor's BUTCHERED installed on Shell gas platform in North Sea. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/anish-kapoor-installs-blood-red-artwork-butchered-on-shell-gas-platform-in-north-sea
[1] The collaboration between Anish Kapoor and Greenpeace on the BUTCHERED installation highlights the intersection of environmental-science, industry, and finance in the climate-change discourse.
[2] The installation of BUTCHERED on a Shell gas platform, an active offshore fossil fuel infrastructure, signifies a significant shift in the use of art as a medium to address energy issues and advocate for environmental preservation.
[3] The powerful visual statement of BUTCHERED, along with Kapoor's activism and subsequent calls for change, has sparked discussions about the role of the fossil fuel industry in the climate crisis and the need for urgent action towards sustainable energy solutions.
