Whale Shark by artists Gillie and Marc

LOCATIONS

EDITION 1 - SINGAPORE - 19 May 2023 - 18 May 2024
Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Visit the sculpture, click for map >

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CLICK HERE TO DONATE DIRECTLY TO WWF > 

NAME
Agwe

TITLE
Love The Whale Shark

GENDER
Male

AGE
23

FOUND
Tropical Oceans

CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered

This 23-year-old male is the largest and gentlest giant in the ocean. Travelling around by himself, he is always on the lookout for some tasty plankton to filter through his great big mouth. But he must be careful. Being so docile, he is a target. He can’t understand why someone who lives on the land would want his fins, they’re only good for swimming!

There is a lot that isn't known about whale sharks. The biggest fish in the sea, they travel great distances alone, only coming together to mate. It is known that they are ovoviviparous - the female lays eggs but they develop inside her, giving birth to live young. This has never been seen in the wild. It's also unknown how many young they give birth to at a time, but it could be a lot! In the '90s a female was found with around 300 foetuses inside her! They wouldn't be born all at the same time though. Instead, the female can store the sperm of a male until she needs it for fertilization, much like a Queen bee. Pretty cool!

These sharks are massive. Because so little is still known, it is not known exactly how big they can grow to. But they could be as large as 20m in length. They set themselves apart from other sharks with their beautiful spots (as unique as your fingerprint) and their huge gaping mouths which they use to filter feed plankton. They are breathtaking to behold.

Not only are they beautiful, but they are also very docile, known for letting swimmers hitch a ride on their back. This has led to a huge boom in whale shark tourism. This can be a wonderful moment, but just like any tourism involving wildlife, you must be careful who you go with. If done badly it can disrupt the whale sharks feeding patterns and put them at risk of being injured by the propellers of boats. Some companies try to keep the sharks in the bay using nets which can be very disruptive for the sharks.

They are also often hunted for their meat and fins. The fin is used in soups and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. These sharks are low in number and slow to reproduce. If they are hunted, they may not be able to bounce back.  

HOW TO HELP 
Inspired by animals that Gillie and Marc met on their travels, we invite the public to discover and interact with these beautiful creatures up close and personal – this allows audiences to connect, take photographs and share their favourite species with friends and family.

With more exposure comes more awareness and builds on the love we already have for animals around the world. With love comes a greater sense of urgency to create a change and save all endangered animals. 

​The sculpture will be aligned with the hashtag #LoveTheLast to raise unparalleled awareness about the sculpture’s cause across the globe.

To help protect these animals, please donate to the WWF: https://www.wwf.sg/

PARTNER

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. As one of WWF’s international hubs, WWF-Singapore supports a global network spanning over 100 countries. We work to meet key conservation goals, such as deforestation, haze pollution, food security, sustainable finance, sustainable consumption and illegal wildlife trade.

For more information, visit https://www.wwf.sg

 
ABOUT GILLIE AND MARC
Gillie and Marc’s highly coveted public artworks can be found worldwide including in New York, London, Singapore, Shanghai, and Sydney. They are Archibald Prize finalists, won the Chianciano Biennale in Italy, took out the Allens People’s Choice Award in 2016 and 2018 and Kids’ Choice Award in the 2016 Sculpture by the Sea and received the Bayside Arts Festival People's Choice Award in 2019 in Sydney.

The husband-and-wife duo are on a mission to make art for a better tomorrow. They are best known for their beloved characters, Rabbitwoman and Dogman, who tell the autobiographical tale of two opposites coming together as best friends and soul mates.

Gillie and Marc are also passionate eco-warriors and have dedicated their lives to protecting nature.

Gillie grew up with the wildlife in Zambia and Marc studied chimpanzees in Tanzania as a young man. Over time, the artists developed a deep appreciation for all living things and a desire to preserve the magnificence of the natural world. 

Gillie and Marc’s mission is to save species from extinction. Through their practices, they are transforming passive audiences into passionate advocates for animal conservation, spreading awareness about endangered species and leading to change.

Their art has raised hundreds of thousands in donations for the many wildlife charities and causes they support through their project Love The Last.

Please follow @gillieandmarcart 

If you are interested in buying art related to the Love the Last March, you will also be directly helping real animals in the wild, with 30% of sales going to WWF to continue their fantastic work for animal conservation. Click here to browse art > https://gillieandmarc.com/collections/love-the-last-march


SOURCES