Bubbles rise up from a shoal of mackerel fleeing the advances of a northern gannet plunging, wings folded, into the sea, while above this underwater scene, two more gannets fight over a single mackerel, wings and feet thrashing, their spear-like bills parrying. In the background, a dark, mysterious rocky isle.
This watery hunt is beautifully captured in a monochrome palette of black and white by Scottish artist Alice Macmillan, whose giant linocut print depicts the great speed and accuracy of these large seabirds as they descend on their prey.
The artwork, titled , was inspired by the colonies of gannets living on the uninhabited island of Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago,remote westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides. Islanders abandoned St Kilda long ago, but Alice lives on a similarly ancient and beautiful isle – Lewis, just across the water. The rich Hebridean wildlife and the seasonal rhythms of the area are a constant source of inspiration for her.
