Razzle Dazzle

Here is the dazzle ship at Leith Docks, blipped after work today.

Dazzle Ship Scotland, co-commissioned by EAF and 14-18 NOW, is the first of EAF’s public art commissions to be unveiled. Entitled Every Woman, Turner Prize-nominated artist and long-term resident of Scotland, Ciara Phillips, has developed a striking design to adorn the iconic vessel MV Fingal, celebrating the role of women during the First World War and commemorating the battle-ready ships that were docked at Leith 100 years ago.

Dazzle camouflage, also known as razzle dazzle (USA) or dazzle painting, was a family of ship camouflage used extensively in World War I, and to a lesser extent in World War II and afterwards. Credited to the British marine artist Norman Wilkinson, it consisted of complex patterns of geometric shapes in contrasting colours, interrupting and intersecting each other.

Unlike other forms of camouflage, the intention of dazzle is not to conceal but to make it difficult to estimate a target's range, speed, and heading. Norman Wilkinson explained in 1919 that he had intended dazzle more to mislead the enemy about a ship's course and so to take up a poor firing position, than actually to cause the enemy to miss his shot when firing.

Hope you have all had a great Wednesday.