Whale on the Wharf: Colossal sculpture arrives in Canary Wharf to spotlight ocean plastic crisis – 10.4.25

• A huge, four-storey-tall blue whale sculpture has been unveiled in Canary Wharf
• Leaping from Wood Wharf’s waters, the piece serves as a striking reminder of the millions of tonnes of plastic waste swimming in the Atlantic & Pacific oceans
• Its concrete base is made of spent coffee grounds from Canary Wharf’s cafes and restaurants
• It is the latest artwork to join the UK’s largest free-to-visit outdoor public art collection

The waters of Canary Wharf have been transformed with a gigantic new sculpture – a blue whale leaping from the dock in Wood Wharf – available to see in the UK for the first time. 

The spectacular four-storey-tall sculpture, titled Whale on the Wharf (Skyscraper), was borne of one shocking fact. Pound for pound, there is more plastic swimming in the world’s oceans than there are whales – 150 million tonnes of it to be exact.  

Viewed up close, the giant whale reveals itself as an intricate mosaic, crafted of plastic collected from Hawaiian beaches.  

To highlight just how much plastic produced by cities ends up in waterways, StudioKCA – a New York-based architecture and design firm – worked with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to comb the beaches of Hawaii for plastic that they then used to build the 11 metre tall sculpture.  

Designed by artist/architect duo Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang, Whale on the Wharf (Skyscraper) is crafted from a variety of sustainable elements, not just recycled plastic but a first-of-its-kind, low-carbon concrete underwater base.  

The base has been created using a circular economy method. The biochar used within the concrete mix is made up of some of the used coffee grounds collected from Canary Wharf’s many cafes and restaurants – an efficient use for it, with 190 tonnes of spent coffee grounds being produced at the Wharf every year. The artwork is supported with a braced steelwork structure made from recovered and reused steel.  

Since 2009, Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has sent zero waste to landfill from its managed areas. The innovative and proactive approach to upcycling waste materials to create Whale on the Wharf (Skyscraper) is just one of many initiatives it has put in place to showcase its commitment to reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.  

The installation can be seen alongside over 100 other artworks at the UK’s largest free-to-visit, outdoor public art collection in Canary Wharf. It joins the likes of Camille Walala’s kaleidoscopic masterpiece Captivated by Colour, Helaine Blumenfeld’s Fortuna and Henry Moore’s Draped Seated Woman – affectionally referred to as Old Flo – which CWG recently extended the loan of for another five years.  

For more information on the many artworks in the neighbourhood, visitors can download Canary Wharf’s Art Map or Digital Art Guide on Bloomberg Connects.  

Artists Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang (StudioKCA) said: “A whale is the largest mammal in the water, and it felt like the right form to take in order to show the scope and scale of the problem. There is more plastic swimming in our oceans than there are whales. Whale on the Wharf is a physical example of why we need to change how we use and dispose of plastic in the world today, and we’re thrilled to be showcasing this piece for the first time in the UK in Canary Wharf’s waters.” 

Lowri Harries, Associate Curator, Public Art at CWG said: “We are very proud to unveil such a thought-provoking and impactful installation as part of our permanent public art collection, particularly one that is as meaningful as it is visually striking. Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the recycled plastic used in the sculpture – the installation process has also been carefully considered to reduce its carbon footprint. Whether visitors come to the Wharf specifically to see this iconic sculpture up close, or it catches their eye when passing through, we hope it provides everyone with some pause for thought.”  

Those looking to spend a day out visiting Canary Wharf can enjoy a host of free-to-visit activities and attractions, including a 9-hole minigolf course by creative duo Craig & Karl, colourful ping pong tables, a free to explore children’s art trail, and 16.5 acres of open space including Eden Dock a waterside haven created in partnership with the Eden Project. Visitors can enjoy a bite to eat at one of the 80+ cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from at Canary Wharf, including newly opened Marceline, plant-based restaurant mallow, or Kricket for dishes inspired by the flavours of India.  

The Whale on the Wharf (Skyscraper) joins Canary Wharf’s permanent art collection and can be seen at Wood Wharf now. For more information, visit https://canarywharf.com/whats-on/whale-on-the-wharf-by-studiokca/.