Cetacean (2019) Sculpture by Scott Kling

"Cetacean" is a metaphor for a Beached Whale. It is an emotional piece of abstract art, yet extremely timely, given the threat of climate change and the unfortunate plight and extinction of many whale species. The beaching of whales is truly an unknown phenomenon. It is theorized that it's a form of suicide, illness, a symptom of old age and or a whale being disoriented. To me, it’s a message to human beings to stop neglecting our shared oceans. It is often said, art is a reflection of life, or the reverse, and Cetacean is a message about the human condition, that I want to convey as an artist, environmentalist, and friend of the earth.

Cetacean is hand carved from Belgium Black Marble and mounted on a block of Spanish Black Marble. The sculpture is approx. 60 centimeters long and 18 centimeters wide, and 12 centimeter high at its thickest point. The sculpture can spin 360 degrees so there are many ever changing angles from which to view it. I have chosen to mount Cetacean horizontally on a single steel dowel, to symbolize the death of the whale. The stone's striped patterns and natural design elements speak to the piece being aquatic…you can even see an eye in the piece from certain angles. I find it fascinating from a geological standpoint, that marble is made of coral reef, compressed and heated over millions of years, so perhaps there are fragments of whale bone embedded in the marble.

I hope you agree this sculpture has a unique beauty that is both sensuous, awe inspiring and sad all in one.

Related themes

Beached WhaleOrcaAbstractBelgium Black Marble