The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG) is set to host “Skywhales Across Australia,” featuring Patricia Piccinini’s renowned hot air balloon sculptures, Skywhale and Skywhalepapa. This free community event is scheduled for Saturday 26 April 2025, from 5:30 AM to 7:30 AM at Dallas Brooks Park in Mornington.
Skywhale (2013) and its companion Skywhalepapa (2020) are breathtaking hot-air balloon sculptures that blend art, science, and fantasy. These enormous floating artworks—stretching 34 and 37 metres long respectively—reimagine whales as celestial creatures, with Skywhale featuring ten pendulous breasts and Skywhalepapa displaying striking, sperm-like forms.
Commissioned for Canberra’s centenary and later expanded into a “family,” these surreal sculptures challenge perceptions of nature and nurture while celebrating biodiversity. When inflated, the ethereal pair drift like gentle giants, turning skies into living galleries and leaving audiences awestruck by their haunting beauty and thought-provoking symbolism.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to witness the inflation of these monumental sculptures. The event will commence with a curated soundscape, followed by an introduction from the artist herself, Patricia Piccinini. As dawn breaks, the Skywhales will ascend into the sky, offering a mesmerising spectacle.
Following the flight, festivities will continue at MPRG, where doors will open at 7:30 AM. Activities include children’s programs and a book signing session with Piccinini. Additionally, attendees can enjoy karaoke performances of Jess Green’s (AKA Pheno) song “We are the Skywhales” and indulge in Skywhale-inspired treats from Nuno’s Southern Hospitality food truck.
For more information visit the MPRG website.
