Landscape in Pain films to go on show at major energy conference

A LOCAL artist is set to exhibit three films about energy industrialisation in Shetland at a major international energy conference next month.

Roxane Permar will showcase three films from her ongoing art project Landscape in Pain at the Energy Ethics 2026 event, held at the University of St Andrews between 4 and 6 August.

In addition to showing the films Landscape in Pain #6014, Anunder and Trembling Earth, Permar has also been selected to give a presentation which will close the double session called Island Energy v Energy Islands on 4 August.

Landscape in Pain is Permar’s response to the Viking Energy wind farm through drawing, photography, sound and film, which she has been developing since February 2021, not long after construction began on the wind farm.

Through her work, Permar said she strives to raise awareness of the complex range of issues that industrialisation brings to Shetland and similar communities.

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She said she was “delighted to be able to take part in this major event”.

“I see a resurgence of concern among Shetlanders about the relentless proposals for new developments, including wind farms, substations, massive pylons, subsea cabling, and a battery park, ammonia plant and hydrogen factory that are leading to the disproportionate industrialisation of Shetland.

“While I am well aware of the need to address climate change, and I am certainly not opposed to wind energy for Shetland, I am deeply concerned that the scale of proposed developments will continue to damage our health, impact our wellbeing, contaminate and damage the environment, risking depopulation and the ultimate destabilisation of our community, its values, culture and heritage.

“It will be exciting, and interesting, to exhibit my films in the context of the variety of disciplines represented at the event.”

Films will engage with the conference theme from many perspectives, including the sciences, public planning, climate ethics, trust and mistrust, war and conflict, and fuel poverty and structural inequalities.