Museum of Cornish Life’s beautiful carved Gannet made by local woodcarver Peter Boex has been shortlisted for Cornwall Museum Partnership’s Heritage Awards 2023 Object of the Year.

This beautiful sculpture holds an environmental message as pertinent today as when it was created in response to the Torrey Canyon disaster of 1967. The wreck resulted in the spilling of over 100,000 tonnes of crude oil into the sea. Thousands of sea birds were killed in what remains the UK’s worst environmental accident. It caused enormous damage to marine life and impacted of the life and livelihoods of people in Cornwall. Significantly it also led to changes in the way people viewed the environment. This beautiful sculpture is a reminder of the environmental impact of industrialisation on the natural environment. It seems of particular relevance in today’s context with the challenges of the climate crisis and the increasing impact of avian flu.

The artist, Peter Boex, is from Helston, and his work draws inspiration from the Cornish landscape and beyond. The gannet exemplifies a focus on organic form and an appreciation of natural beauty.

If you think the Gannet should win Object of the Year 2023, please vote using this page:

HA-Object of the Year 2023 – Cornwall Museums Partnership – Cornwall Museums Partnership