Whale Tales

In late 2021, FDL manufactured 52 of the 80 large whale-tail sculptures created for Whale Tales 2022, a free public art trail held throughout Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Inspired by the endangered Bryde’s whales of the Hauraki Gulf, each sculpture was transformed by a New Zealand artist to tell a unique story about the ocean and marine conservation.

Producing such a large series required repeatable moulding and consistent surface quality across every sculpture. The fibreglass tails needed to be lightweight enough to transport and install at locations around Auckland, durable enough for extended outdoor display, and finished with a smooth surface suitable for each artist’s individual design.

Following the 12-week trail, the sculptures were auctioned to raise funds for WWF-New Zealand’s work protecting and restoring the Hauraki Gulf. The project demonstrates how fibreglass can provide a strong and consistent foundation for large-scale public artworks while allowing each finished sculpture to become entirely unique.

Flukes of Steel by Wētā Workshop

Kapehu Whetu