Meet the Whale in the Wharf: Art, Scale, and Surprise in London’s Docklands

The blue whale isn't a species normally associated with London.  After all, when it comes to animals, the English capital city is known for its lions (stone, mostly), ravens, horses and pigeons (so many, many pigeons).  As such, the latest piece of art unveiled in London’s docklands is a pleasant departure from the expected menagerie.   Captured in a spectacular head-first breach, this 36 foot (11 metre) leviathan was created to highlight the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans of the world.

At close range, the colossal whale sheds its singular silhouette and becomes a constellation of detail, an intricate mosaic whose beauty lies in the delicate interplay of form, colour, and craft.  It all comes together in a visually jaw-dropping way. This striking installation is part of a vast open-air gallery in Canary Wharf, where over 100 artworks transform the place into the UK’s largest free public art trail.  But, what’s the story with the whale?