An oil rig is a little like the tip of an iceberg – only a little is visible over the horizon, leaving our imagination to fill in what’s under the water. It’s just that one is being destroyed by climate change and the other is part of the network of problems that have led us to the planetary crisis.  

During the days of the North Sea oil boom in the 1970s, oil platform designers built huge models detailing every pipe and valve in order to ensure that the intricate maze of pipework did not clash at any point. This 1:33 scale model dominates the entrance hall in the museum, showing just how deep below the waterline the engineering detail goes.