A new contemporary art exhibition on the past, present and future of whales opens at the Hull Maritime Museum this February.
Here Be Whales, which brings together a selected group of national and international artists who explore the sea mammals, is on show from 5 February to 22 April at the museum.
The exhibition features drawings, sculptures, video and writing, looks at the ways humans tried to understand cetaceans through cultural methods.
Co-curator and artist Martha Cattell, said: “Hull and the Maritime Museum offer the perfect host for such an exhibition, as it offers a chance to reflect on Hull’s past whaling history, which at its peak in the 1820s employed around 2,000 people.
“The museum’s collections hold many relics from this era, including the skeleton of a North Atlantic Right whale. Whilst at the same time the exhibition offers a chance to think about the current status of cetaceans, which are now often used as markers for the varied environmental threats facing ocean ecosystems.”
Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “We are excited to welcome this fascinating exhibition at the Maritime Museum exploring the many different forms of whales in a range of artworks. We have a rich history of whaling in Hull and this exhibition complements our strong collections.”
The exhibition is also running in the Porch Gallery, Left Bank Leeds, from 6 February to 27 March.
Read more about the exhibition here.
