Story Behind This Mural
Artist Statement
It is incumbent upon us to be stewards of the ocean. The artwork, depicting an endangered Bryde whale with its head in the form of a local fishing vessel, is meant to show the relationship between mankind and nature while locked in competition for resources.
One brutal cause of death for Bryde whales is ship strikes. The whales spend most of their time just under the surface where large cargo ships have been known to travel. Locally, in Auckland, they have decreased the speed of ships by just 5 km/hr, begun thermal detection and condensed shipping lanes resulting in a 75% reduction in deaths. Its a great start and shows how just a small change and basic understanding of the ocean can lead to a healthier planet.