Commensalis

The Key Table serves as the wayfinder for the installation, it holds the stark information relating to the quantity of whales processed on South Georgia between 1904 and 1966. It utilises the Nightingale chart to display the components of the total 175,250 whales processed. It apportions a section of the chart to each species hunted and processed 

This pattern emphasises the scale of these creatures with its design consisting of the largest of the rivets contained in the entire artwork. The largest single rivet in the entire artwork is found at the exact centre of this Spirit Table. This rivet acknowledges the largest blue whale ever taken in Antarctic waters and processed at Grytviken, at 30 meters long. 

The Fin whale was by far the most hunted species of whale in Antarctic waters by the whaling industry. The pattern I have employed on this table is that of the Fibonacci Mandala or a Vogel’s Model. The Fibonacci pattern or sequence makes its appearance in all living things and to my mind suits as the best visual memorial to the whale species most persecuted during the Antarctic whaling industry. It is a regal and beautiful pattern. 

The spiral pattern of rivets on the Humpback whale Spirit Table makes reference to the spiral bubble nets these whales produce to corral krill when feeding.

The Sei whale Spirit Table displays a random arrangement with rivets of even size. The sei whale remains one of the least understood whales in terms of its exact movements. This is suggested in the random layout of these rivets. 

The Sperm whale Spirit Table displays rivets in a pattern which suggests the ‘marguerite formation’. This is a formation sperm whales use in the wild when protecting calves from predators. The whales form a circle around a vulnerable whale with their tails facing outwards. The flicking of their enormous tails can be potentially deadly to attacking predators. The circular arrangement of the rivets on this table subtly reflect this behaviour. 

The Southern Right whale Spirit Table has a crescent moon ‘edge’ arrangement of rivets that refer to the nocturnal ‘skim feeding’ observed in this species and the moon’s effect upon the ocean’s tides.