Captain Boomer Collective

After spectacular stops in Australia, Europe and most recently at the climate conference in Baku, the lifelike sculpture of a sperm whale is now finally in the Hanseatic city - in the heart of the city centre, on Jungfernstieg. This artistic intervention

critically points out the consequences of climate change and at the same time produces an image that is as beautiful as it is disturbing. The play with fiction and reality in public space triggers both astonishment and admiration, evoking an emotional and intellectual reaction that interrupts the everyday life of Hamburg's city centre for a poetic moment.

The realistic-looking sculpture is 15.5 metres long and weighs around 1000 kg. Six performers in white protective suits accompany the installation, ‘analyse’ the whale, make contact with passers-by and intensify the apocalyptic effect.

In the context of the Claiming Common Spaces Festival of International Production Houses, which takes place at Kampnagel from 3 to 5 April 2025 and links the German-speaking independent scene with international actors, the installation is an expression of the desire to help shape public dialogue through artistic means even in this time of backlash.

THE WHALE is the title of the work by the Belgian artist group ‘Captain Boomer Collective’, who are known for their critical interventions in public space and now want to conquer the German-speaking theatre space.

In the post-election phase, THE WHALE is a silent plea that reminds and admonishes us of our treatment of nature and the transience of life, transforming public space into a place for discourse and reflection.