Seabirds and Shiant Isles.
- benjaminorisk
- Nov 14
- 2 min read
Harking back to 2018....
During a period where I was experimenting with materials ,thinking about remote islands, the sea, the sounds and the possibility of visiting the Shiant Isles; a small group of remote islands in the Minch, a strait in north-west Scotland that separates the mainland from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
The resulting painting entitled 'Knee Deep in the North Sea' (2018), also a song title by Portico Quartet featured in a group show at the Mission Gallery in Swansea curated by LLE Gallery.
This particular group of islands and in fact islands in general have been the subject for painters, musicians and writers since forever. We are all in some way inhabitants of an island, imaginary or otherwise. The imaginary bridge between land and sea is rich with possibilities. Seabirds are the bridge between the two, symbols of strength, resilience, freedom. Connecting the dots on the map by way of a very clever navigation system.
There's a story about the Blue Men of the Minch or 'storm kelpies' who are said to inhabit this particular stretch of sea, looking for sailors to drown and stricken ...and act of revenge perhaps. It's thought that theres a link between the early viking settlers, Tuareg slaves, and the blue headdresses worn by the Tuareg....
By chance, the painting is now housed in a private collection - a by the current owners of the Shiant Isles.
Nightswmming curated by LLE Gallery in association with BEEP Painting Biennial at Mission Gallery Swansea.
Featured Artists:
Simon Bayliss / Lindsey Bull / Martyn Cross / Gordon Dalton / Lara Davies / Tom Down / Tamara Dubnyckyj / Robbie Fife / Rebecca Gould / Jacqui Hallum / Marielle Hehir / Aly Helyer / Linda Hemmersbach / Dan Howard-Birt / Richard James / Iwan Lewis / Jonathan Lux / James Moore / Hannah M Morris / Philip Nicol / Tom Pitt / Ben Risk / Ben Sadler / Toby Ursell / Casper White / Ellie Young
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