Alluvia shortlisted for major art award

Alluvia, the stunning underwater sculpture in the River Stour by the Westgate Towers, has been shortlisted for a prestigious public sculpture award – and you can help it win!

Voting is now open in the Public Statues and Sculpture Association’s (PSSA) annual awards, with Alluvia up for recognition in the ‘Excellence in Public Sculpture’ category.

The winner will be decided entirely by the public vote, with voting open until Sunday 5 October on the PSSA website.

Alluvia is by internationally-renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor. She was installed last September.

The sculpture was commissioned by the Canterbury Commemoration Society and upon unveiling was formally gifted to the city.

She replaced a previous sculpture which had deteriorated due to wear and tear caused by what is a fast-flowing river and was beyond repair.

The new Alluvia is made from recycled glass, LEDs and marine stainless steel, and incorporates environmental monitoring sensors. It is lit from within at night, making it accessible to view 24 hours a day.

Due to the natural ebb and flow of the river and the environment she lives in, Alluvia’s visibility to the public varies.

Although no regular cleaning of her takes place – we feel the natural world should be left to do its thing – an annual condition check is carried out.

The council’s Cabinet member for culture, Cllr Charlotte Cornell, said: “Alluvia changes with the waters. She is beautiful and she is tragic.

“You can read sadness into her if you like, or you can read a reflection on nature and human damage to our waterways, or perhaps she is Ophelia and a representation of the great contribution this city has made to literature.

“The reason she is great art, is that she is 100 different things to 100 different people. She is well deserving of a vote to win this important award.”

Published: 19 September 2025