An unusual exhibition that uses art to highlight awareness of whales and the impact of environmental changes on their habitat first saw the light of day at Loro Parque on Tenerife in 2008 but a new larger version of the exhibition opened at the Tenerife Espacio de las Artes in Santa Cruz at the beginning of September 09. This new location gave the public until 4th October to go and see the amazing sculptures.

The original seven giant orca sculptures were built by different groups around the island who collaborated to make their whales using different designs and materials. They were initially shown around different locations on the island before finding a collective home back at the Loro Parque theme park to whom the sculptures have been donated by their artists.

The exhibition grew in size when the number of contributing artists grew to 20 and the new exhibition that ran at the Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) saw a total of 13 orca sculptures on display.

Some of the whale shapes towered up to 2.5 m in height and they were free to view in their location outside the main entrance to TEA. The sculptures each had their own theme, with some highlighting aspects of Tenerife life itself. They were certainly a colourful spectacle and of interest for anyone with an appreciation of modern art.

Tenerife also presents a unique opportunity to go whale watching for real. Around 25 different species of whales and dolphins have been spotted in the waters around the island and the stretch of water than runs between Tenerife and the nearby of La Gomera is a favourite location for seeing them.