Buzz
The Seine River in Paris is home to numerous fish species. According to the Associated Press, the iconic river now features an unexpected addition: a beached whale.
Eco-conscious individuals can relax—the sperm whale is a hyper-realistic art installation by the Belgian collective Captain Boomer, placed near Notre Dame Cathedral. The piece aims to highlight environmental issues and stir the inner child in everyone, encouraging them to question the line between reality and imagination, as explained by collective member Bart Van Peel in an interview with the Associated Press.
Paris: How did a 'whale' end up beached on the banks of the River Seine https://t.co/epXDazM3Hc pic.twitter.com/q8pJ9gGLe4
— The Local France (@TheLocalFrance) July 21, 2017
The 65-foot artwork has reportedly left many Parisians both startled and puzzled, especially with a group of faux scientists on-site to “examine” the whale. A member of the collective even shared a social media video cautioning locals that “there could be more in the water” if they decide to swim in the Seine, as reported by The Local.
While the whale sculpture is a temporary installation, Captain Boomer is no stranger to such spectacles. Last summer, they unveiled a similar riverside piece in Rennes, France, and previously transported a massive whale sculpture on a truck, driving it across the country.
