Moby the Whale

Our latest project with Portsmouth Creative Skills (a creative careers programme for young care leavers aged 16-24) is in collaboration with Artist, Alice Bee who is currently completing her Masters in Community Theatre Engagement at Portsmouth University.  

Over the course of one week, these young participants collaborated to construct a massive whale puppet using discarded plastic materials. The project culminated in a spectacular parade on 18th August on Southsea beach, captivating onlookers and sparking important conversations about the environment. 

Photography by Dev Place

This project involved various youth community groups (Artsworks Portsmouth Creative Skills being one of these) helping to construct a giant whale puppet made entirely from single-use plastic. The idea opened the conversation of environmental issues, whilst fostering creativity, teamwork and creating an interactive experience for these nine young individuals to really be proud of. The finished artwork, which has been nicknamed Moby, measures just over 12 foot long.  

Moby the plastic whale aims to raise awareness of plastic pollution’s devastating impact on wildlife, the actions we must take and the conversations we must have when it comes to the future of our environment.  

Alice Bee said of the project: 

“The project not only stands as a symbol of creativity and collaboration but also the potential for care leavers and communities to drive meaningful change. As the giant plastic whale takes its symbolic journey through the streets of Portsmouth, it carries with it a powerful message of unity and determination in the face of environmental challenges.” 

Alice and the young people were also joined by researchers from the University of Portsmouth’s Revolution Plastics, which offered a unique exchange of insights and creativity between the researchers and the young people of Portsmouth.  

This project was supported using public funding by Arts Council England