Whales to takeover Rochester Cathedral in 2026
Three giant sperm whales will be suspended in the Nave for a month-long exhibition in the Spring
Three majestic sperm whale sculptures will take over the Nave of Rochester Cathedral for a month in Spring 2026.
A thought provoking and inspiring artwork by artist Tessa Campbell Fraser (in partnership with MESSUMS ORG), the installtion seeks to unravel the interspecies communications between man and animal that are currently at the forefront of scientific research.
Three monumental (5.2m, 4.6m and 3m respectively) sculptures of sperm whales which will hang from the nave ceiling from Tuesday 10th February until Saturday 7th March.
The nave’s wooden roof beams were often compared to the timbers of an upside down ship or boat, carrying subliminal associations with the industrial scale whaling which reduced sperm whale numbers to critical levels in the 19th century, when their waxy spermaceti oil famously oiled the wheels of the Industrial Revolution.
The sculptures offer a response to the environment whereby the viewer becomes immersed into an imaginative world of the whale whilst the surroundings reflect man’s increasing ecological impact on the world’s climate.Whales won first prize in the Association for Heritage Interpretation Engaging People Award for the launch presentation at Winchester Cathedral in 2025. This prestigious award recognised the exhibition for its effective audience engagement relating to the climate emergency.
Whales will open on the 10th February until 7th March.
Admission is free during the day but charges will apply for groups, evenings and special events. The exhibition is suitable for all ages.
