It is rare for most of us to see whales, dolphins or porpoises in our day-to-day lives. However, the waters surrounding Vancouver Island offer food, shelter and habitat for many species. These species include humpbacks, grey whales, orcas, minke whales, Dall’s porpoises, harbour porpoises, and Pacific white-sided dolphins. As well as some more rarely seen species like sperm whales, North Pacific right whales and others.   

The artworks in this installation were created by bending and twisting steel wire with hand-held tools. The resulting three-dimensional drawings are unique and individual—just like the creatures they represent. This installation is inspired by cross-section illustrations that reveal what is hidden beneath the surface. The term ‘depth sounding’ refers to measuring the depth of a body of water. ‘Sounding’ is used to describe the descent of whales when they dive.  This installation shows three types of habitats: shallow water (top row), medium depth (middle row) and deep water (bottom row). 

This installation highlights the diversity found within local species and is a reminder that even when you don’t see whales, they could still be present just below the surface.