Tail trail raises awareness of need for marine conservation

Aucklanders have till next month to check out an immersive public art trail featuring 80 sculpted whale tails each made by a different artist.

The exhibition by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWFN) is aimed at spreading awareness of the need for marine conservation in a creative and informative way.

Whales Tales, running from January to April 2022 includes pieces by 80 artists.

Livia Esterhazy, chief executive of WFFN, says the art trail is a new way for people to learn about the importance of protecting and restoring the ocean.

“We want them to enjoy the incredible art, but we also want them to remember that we each have a role to play, and a duty,” says Ms Esterhazy.

Each whale tail is accompanied by a blurb from the artist, explaining the reason behind their design choice.

One Auckland artist, Benjamin Work, hopes that through his artwork the people of Auckland have a greater awareness of the whenua they live on and the moana that surrounds them.

“The more we are connected to our surroundings, the more respect and care we will have with our environment,” says Work.

His work, titled Beached, is displayed at Orewa Beach, North Auckland.