Due to popular demand, we are pleased to announce that this exhibition has now been extended until 25 November 2023.
In 1997, a rogue wave knocked 62 containers from a cargo ship off the coast of Cornwall. Five million pieces of Lego were set adrift in the ocean, washing up on beaches across the southwest. Adrift – Lego Lost at Sea is the story of what was lost and what was learned about the ocean, its currents and pollution.
The exhibition has been inspired by author, Tracey Williams whose book, Adrift: the curious tale of the Lego lost at sea shares Tracey’s personal story of beachcombing for Lego as well as other weird and not so wonderful objects washed in from the ocean.
Artist Rob Arnold also features in the exhibition with his awareness raising works such as a sculpture inspired by the Moai statues on Rapa Nui made from plastics collected from Cornish beaches. Read our full blog on this exhibition.
During this exhibition, you can:
- Learn more about the plastic that washes up on shore through the words of beachcombers like Tracey Williams
- Explore art and collections prompted by plastic pollution
- Join events exploring the exhibition’s themes
- Take part in ‘Plastic Soup’ – a programme of children’s activities inspired by Adrift
- And more!
Check out our film, giving you a sneak peak of what our summer exhibition has to offer! Adrift: Lost at Sea is open from 11 July – 23 September and tells the story, following the great Lego spill of 1997, of what was lost and what was learned about the ocean, its currents and pollution.
With thanks to Tracey Williams, Rob Arnold, Claire Giner and Watergate Bay Hotel
Note: Very few classic-style Lego bricks were lost in the spill – these are featured only for illustrative purposes.