Sacred Ocean

The silent reminder of extinction

IFAW Animal Rescue Blogs — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:52:00 -0500

From Noel Ashton's studio in Cape Town

Over the past few days I have been completing the final of the eight relief panels for around the base of the Sacred Ocean sculpture, of two Yangtze River dolphins swimming slowly together, and this has really brought home to me the importance of bringing into focus the plight of the world's whales and dolphins. Last year the Yangtze River dolphin was officially declared extinct, a blight on the record for marine conservation as this species could have been saved if co-ordinated planning and practical conservation measures had been put in place in time.

During discussions with Mark Carwardine** recently, he put this into perspective when he described the loss of this dolphin as happening "whilst we were on watch", a definitive statement that points the finger squarely at modern-day conservation. We live in an age of extraordinary technology, of satellites in the sky and communication at the speed of light, international conferences and signed conventions, but we still were not able to pull together and harness the energy required to save this important species. This is a warning that must not be silent, for it shows flaws in the system.

In less than two weeks Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be officially unveiling the sculpture in the foyer of the Two Oceans Aquarium, and it will draw to close a period of intense sculpting that has included battles with proportion and symmetry, catalysts and conversion ratios, as well as moments of relief as I find the balance I am seeking and capture the weightlessness of the two humpbacks. But in no way is this the end.

In reality it signals the beginning, as we start to tell the story of the terrible brutality of whaling and its impact on the human psyche, and ask people around the world to look carefully at how they see the world around them. Many of the environmental injustices of the modern era are caused by ignorance or an out-of-date way of seeing the world; some are caused by turning a blind eye, and some by a feeling of being overwhelmed, as the problems seem so large that one voice is but a silent shout into the increasing winds of devastation.

I am hoping that the Sacred Ocean initiative will stand firm in this wind, and its presence and symbolism will become the beacon that many now need. I ask you to consider the possibility of the launch of Sacred Ocean as a starting point for a worldwide movement that can, with your help, bring together a unified voice against the cruelty of whaling. The Yangtze River dolphin is lost forever, but may its memory shake us out of complacency and rather bring about change, not only because we must, but because we can.

**Mark Carwardine is an internationally-respected independent cetacean specialist who has authored over 40 books on whales, dolphins and sharks. He presents a wildlife programme on BBC Radio and is at present filming a series with Stephen Fry based on Douglas Adams's book Last Chance to See.

Centrepiece for the sculpture, the humpback whales

IFAW Animal Rescue Blogs — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:57:00 -0400

From Noel Ashton's studio in Cape Town

It is late in the evening and the studio is in complete darkness but for the single spotlight above the sculpting table. For the past few hours I have been working on the central piece for the Sacred Ocean sculpture, the two humpback whales that hang suspended from the bones, capturing a special moment as the mother and calf touch momentarily as they glide by. Times like these in the studio are very focused, my concentration aided by the fact that there are no distractions, no sounds, nothing intrusive, not even any reference notes. Those notes are in my head, gleaned from countless hours studying, watching and drawing humpbacks, so now my hands trace invisible lines as they search for the form in the clay.

At times my mind drifts off and I am in the water with the humpbacks, warm turquoise waters and sunlight streams descending from the surface. Everything is in slow motion, giving me time to study the two whales as they swim by, extraordinary moments, special encounters. For me these are the most perfectly proportioned and elegant of whales, with their slender bodies and long flippers that flow through the water like the flight of a bird. They turn and glide by with a gracefulness that is almost impossible to describe. It is this grace that I seek in this sculpture, and so I will sculpt the two as I see them now, a moment locked in time, the tips of their flippers just touching, a true challenge for me as a sculptor but one which I must get right.

To think that thousands of humpback whales were once ruthlessly hunted, this ocean mammal in complete balance with its underwater environment, taken away by the brutal explosion of a harpoon gun. And now they are in the harpooner's sights again.

The humpback is one of the most sought after species by whale watchers around the world, as it is the singing whale, creating ocean melodies that last up to half an hour, repeated again and again, echoing through the depths, adding to the ocean pulse. May these magnificent whales be forever free, may their songs resonate through eternity, for if the song of the humpback whale is lost, a part of us will die as well…

Time spent with the whale bones

IFAW Animal Rescue Blogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:31:00 -0400

From Noel Ashton's studio in Cape Town

Creating a sculpture of the size and complexity of Sacred Ocean involves a long and complicated journey. Initially the process is entirely creative, a beginning that involves the coming together of emotion, creativity and visualisation, as the form and meaning of the piece are originated entirely in the mind.

Then the process of drawing brings out the actual form onto paper — a lengthy process of exploration as the sculpture is brought into the light of day, where the internal images are laid down and the structure of the three dimensions worked out. It is one thing to imagine a sculpture like this, it is another to try to transfer the concept and structure into reality, and most of this occurs during this stage of drawing. Only after this process is completed can the physical journey of creating the three dimensional work begin, and to do this I needed first to visit the bones of the southern right whale that washed up near Cape Point a few years ago.

On the windswept coast the bones protrude from the sand, the end of a journey of a lifetime in the water, and it is here that I went to connect with the whales. Not only was this an opportunity to look closely at the bones, their structure, shape, colour and texture, but it also gave me a unique opportunity to be with whales. This might seem unusual, but as an artist it is incredibly important to engage all realities, and these times spent with the bones gave me a chance to reflect on their hidden lives below the surface. These are quiet times, and a very different experience from watching migrating whales or mothers with calves, and involves a more spiritual journey of connecting with the soul of the whale. At times unexpected insights and thoughts appear, and I often wonder if it is these connections that the elephants seek when they spend time with the bones of their ancestors. Although I did make some notes whilst with the bones, most of what I gained from this experience I carry within me, and use these emotions and connections to keep my focus and integrity as the process of creating the actual sculpture progresses…

More next week as I discuss sculpting the two humpback whales and why I chose this majestic species…

Inspiration under the African moon

IFAW Animal Rescue Blogs — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:31:00 -0400

From Noel Ashton's studio in Cape Town

"For many years I have watched with horror and dismay as the whaling ships leave port and head towards the Southern Ocean Sanctuary in pursuit of whales. A shiver runs down my spine when I recall the deeply disturbing images of the hunt... of the harpooned whale thrashing in the water as it slowly dies, red blood in the blue water, tortured death-throws lasting up to an hour.
I am deeply disturbed by these events....
...and I am not alone. Around the world hundreds of thousands of people are horrified by these brutal actions, but they have found no single voice to speak of their feelings. I would like this sculpture to become their voice."
Noel Ashton, 2008

Sitting by the fire under a rising African moon, the concept of the Sacred Ocean sculpture came to me. To the ancient peoples of this vast continent, fireside times were opportunities to connect with the mysterious inner and outer beings, and to express this through stories, images and dance. For me that night was one of those rare moments when inspiration and creativity merged in a flash of focused energy; and with time the form of the sculpture was slowly borne out of the smoke and the sparks of the fire, and it finally became real when I grappled with large charcoal drawings in the studio. It was only when the sun returned that the image was complete, fought over and meaded, pulled slowly from the recesses of my wandering mind.

As I worked on the sculpture over the next few days, I would now and then slip into differing realities — at times I would be in the water with the whales, the sparkling surface overhead dappling light on the mother and calf as they glided by in an incredible ocean stillness.

Other moments were spent grappling with the mighty bones, as they formed into graceful curves like sacred Gothic arches, threatening to topple upon me unless I balanced them carefully. Underneath all I encountered the soul, the spiritual connection which spoke to me through the emotions, and I knew that this sculpture had to be brought into the light of day, and that I would invite the world to join me in my wish to make this sculpture stand for the whales... silently and alone, but with pure and focused intent. Although the sculpture is primarily an anti-whaling statement and icon, a physical extension of my inner voice, for me it is also a testament to the magnificent whales with which we share this blue ocean home.

I therefore wish to honour and celebrate them, and to ask people to bear witness to the importance that whales have in their lives, from creation stories to the reawakening present, for there is an ancient mystical aspect and connection with these mammals of the deep, which is far beyond rational thought. So join me in celebrating their lives, and striving to save them from the dark brutality and hideous slaughter that brought many species to the very edge of extinction. Become part of the global voice against the cruelty of whaling.