Floccinaucinihilipilification is the act or habit of describing or regarding something as unimportant, of having no value or being worthless. As one of the longest words in the English language, I thought it would be fitting for the largest animal in existence, the blue whale. The use of this title is meant to be interpreted ironically, as it could be said that these giant creatures are often disregarded by humanity and that we must consider their lives as unimportant and worthless, if we have driven the species to near extinction, and continue to impact its chances of survival today.
Floccinaucinihilipilification, 30x30" Acrylic on Premium Splined Gallery Canvas
Blue whales (scientific name: Balaenoptera Musculus) are majestic works of art, naturally. Blue whales occur worldwide in all major oceans, except for the Artic. Just the fact that they exist, this titan of planet earth, is mind-blowing. There are only about 25, 000 left, mostly as a result of commercial whaling in the 1800s and 1900s. One whale would yield so much oil, which is why it was prized by whalers. Blue whales are difficult to find, since they are usually in offshore waters. Blue whales were generally inaccessible, until the advent of mechanized harpoons and factory ships, which could move at great speed, enough to chase down and process blue whales.
In 1966, the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling was established for protection. Today, some populations are known to be recovering up to 7%, which is great news. Getting hit by ships, especially where their habitat overlaps with shipping lanes, commercial exploitation of krill, and climate change seems to be the current threat to this endangered species.
Some fun facts about blue whales:
- They have hearts the size of a Volkswagen Beetle
- They need to eat about 4 tons of krill a day
- They are the loudest animal on earth, making noises that are louder than a jet engine
Blue Whale
I wanted this painting to be a tribute to the marvellous and awe-inspiring being. Each part of the painting contains a message, both positive and negative. The gold in the background is symbolic of the positive and negative riches associated with this animal, in its provision through its awe-inspiring presence, the roll it plays in its ecosystem, and the wisdom it provides through studying it. On the negative side, the gold colour represents the riches provided to whalers through its oil. The black rings were inspired by a compass, on the positive side representing the natural compass of nature, the blue whale knowing why it belongs, its worth to its habitat and the world. On the negative side, it is representative of a target, pin pointing the location of these otherwise elusive animals with advanced technology. The reddish portion of the background is positively representative of the heart and passion of the people who are taking action to help this species survive. On the negative spectrum, it is representative of the blood that has been shed. The blue and white circle with silver embellishment is a reference to The Blue Planet, a British nature documentary series created and produced by the BBC, described as "the first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans", and narrated by David Attenborough, one of my idols. In the centre is our main character, the blue whale. Front and central, I hope it allows you to focus on, and appreciate, the beauty of an animal that luckily still exists on our planet today - for now.
Floccinaucinihilipilification, 30x30" Acrylic on Premium Splined Gallery Canvas
This painting is a part of a 2021 painting series, which is dedicated to endangered species. In an effort to use my skill set to take action, I will be donating 10% of the proceeds of this painting to The Blue Whale Project, The Blue Whale Project is an initiative of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, that seeks to be the proactive voice of the endangered Blue Whales in Atlantic Canada. The Blue Whale Project recognizes the Gulf of St Lawrence as critical habitat for this species and advocates for research, awareness, and responsible management of this essential marine ecosystem.
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