Article by Tabish Khan from FAD Magazine
When I jumped on a train to Bodmin, all I knew was that it was associated with the mythical Beast of Bodmin, based on supposed sightings of a big cat that were never confirmed. I wouldn’t have been able to point to it on a map, nor confirm that it’s in Cornwall.
What brings me here in 2026 is the second iteration of Flamm, a Cornish visual arts festival; last year it was in Redruth. Flamm means “flame” or “rebirth” in Cornish, and it’s designed to breathe new life into a different location each year.
Many of the town’s tourist hotspots feature contemporary artworks, including a ceramic sculpture by Rebecca Proctor at the former Bodmin jail, now a boutique hotel, experience, and cafe. It references the jackdaws that are linked to a former prisoner imprisoned for being a rumoured witch. Her tame birds came with her, and it is rumoured that should they leave, the spirits of the condemned will rise and bring misfortune and chaos.
