CAPE TOWN – A striking 5 m-high sculpture of a Cape Gannet has captured attention at Bird Island in Kommetjie, serving as a powerful symbol for West Coast conservation efforts.
Kommetjie artist Chip Snaddon was commissioned by Protect the West Coast (PTWC) to create the 90-km artwork from steel, driftwood and wire collected from the local coastline.
Iconic environmental symbol
Named Koos Malgas after the artist who created the Owl House sculptures under Helen Martins’ direction, the sculpture represents the threatened fauna and flora of the West Coast that PTWC works to protect from heavy mineral and diamond sand mining.
The Cape Gannet was chosen as a beloved symbol of the Western Cape fishing community, known for diving like a projectile into the ocean to hunt shoaling baitfish during the famous sardine run.
Artistic vision
Snaddon crafted the sculpture in four removable pieces, positioning the bird with wings spread as if about to take flight. The driftwood cladding evokes the coastal environment while highlighting the vulnerability of creatures affected by unchecked development.
He explained: “I built the sculpture to evoke the coastal environment and suggest the vulnerability of all creatures affected by unfettered development and extractive practices.”
Conservation success story
The sculpture also celebrates PTWC’s conservation victories, including their 2023 court settlement preventing Trans Hex from mining around the Olifants River mouth, a critical wetland habitat for migratory birds and local fishing communities.
Public display
Currently featured at the Kommetjie Festival, Koos Malgas will remain for the Open Studios Kommetjie event in December before moving to a permanent West Coast location.
Community action
PTWC Managing Director Mike Schlebach praised the artwork as “a great representation of what we stand to gain if we protect and nurture the wild spaces of the West Coast.”
The organisation encourages community involvement through their website www.protectthewestcoast.org and public participation platform at www.ripl.co.za, where residents can comment on mining applications threatening 88% of the West Coast’s 450-km coastline.
The sculpture stands as both an artistic achievement and a call to action for preserving the region’s unique biodiversity.
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