Dominion A Whale Symposium

Throughout history, the whale has fascinated artists, scientists, writers, musicians, storytellers. From the ancient civilisations to aboriginal peoples, from 19th century literature, in the shape of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, to 21st century cinema such as Free Willy and Whale Rider. The Dominion exhibition and Whale Festival at Plymouth, February 2011, the first to be held in the UK, celebrated the iconographic image of the whale and explored its place in literature, biology and history. The festival featured eminent scientists from the field of cetacean studies and explored the cultural significance of the whale through film, music, poetry readings and gallery talks, and sought to explore and celebrate the links between science and the arts. At its centre was the unique collaboration between the artist, Angela Cockayne, Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University, and the acclaimed writer Philip Hoare.