Written by Amanda David
The newest addition to Canary Wharf’s permanent art collection can be found leaping from the dock at Water Street in Wood Wharf.
Made from 5 tonnes of plastic waste found on Hawaiian beaches, Whale on the Wharf stands as a reminder of the millions of tonnes of plastic waste still swimming in our oceans.
It’s the latest ESG-focused initiative from Canary Wharf Group which has sent zero waste to landfill from its managed areas since 2009; the concrete base was made using spent coffee grounds from nearby cafes and bars in Canary Wharf – an efficient use for it, with a staggering 190 tonnes of spent coffee grounds being produced at the Wharf every year.
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 – of which CWG recently extended the loan for another five years.
For more information on the many artworks in the neighbourhood, download Canary Wharf’s Art Map.
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