A Whale is a Whale is a Whale: Swan Song for the Arabian Humpback

2014 
Visual essay, LCD monitor (3 mins)  

A Whale is A Whale is A Whale: Swan Song for the Arabian Humpback is a tribute to the disappearing Arabian humpback whale population, tracing its near extinction as a consequence of the high-speed development of the Persian Gulf. The work highlights a uniqueness of language within Arabian whale populations as a subtlety of distinction for these whales from others; something insensible to the normatively prioritised visual distinctions which can encourage conservation on the grounds of uniqueness.   

Supported by: Swedish Film Institute  

Sophia Al-Maria is an artist, writer and film maker working through critically rigorous explorations of language, imperialism and counter-histories.   

Al-Maria has recently exhibited at: Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art; Turku Museum of Art; Abdellia Palace; Fondazione Prada; LUMA Westbau; Henry Art Gallery, Seattle; Tate Britain; Bangkok Art Biennial; Geneva Biennial; and the 59th Venice Biennial 

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