Blind Faith

Mixed Media, 2008

Blind Faith is an homage to tornadoes—one of my ongoing fascinations. It speaks to the raw, unrelenting power of nature, and how utterly insignificant we are in its wake. The piece draws inspiration from a scene in Independence Day (1996), where crowds gather on rooftops to watch alien ships descend, moments before they’re obliterated. There’s a brief, almost absurd hope before everything turns to shit.

The tornado in Blind Faith is populated with architectural figures, each caught in seemingly mundane, ordinary moments—taking pictures, kids floating in rubber rings, people standing still with their hands on their hips. It’s this juxtaposition of stillness and chaos that I find compelling. The piece embodies that fleeting shift from hope to annihilation—a moment where blind faith triumphs over fear.

Anecdotally, there’s a saying in the West Country: “You play silly games, you get silly prizes.” You’re welcome.