GESTRANDET

At St. Gertrud, two independent artistic research paths converge to form a shared space of resonance exploring the relationship between humans and whales. The sculpture of the humpback whale that washed ashore on South Africa’s west coast in 2018—which Gil Shachar developed from an original body cast after years of preparation—exudes an impressive presence within the monumental concrete space, making questions of vulnerability and responsibility unavoidable. The sparingly placed lighting and the interlocking exposed concrete surfaces of the church create a tension between archaic physicality and contemporary reflection, which intertwines with the film works of Michael Nowottny. His ongoing exploration of Herman Melville’s *Moby Dick*, which he has pursued since 2003, examines the novel’s literary and existential themes across various media; in the exhibition, this body of work can be experienced through a focused selection of films. In addition, the crypt offers another point of access through the book project “STRANDED – Part 1: The Hunt,” which brings Nowottny’s long-standing research to light and delves deeper into the multifaceted interplay of myth, history, and ecological reality. Together, the works of both artists create a multi-perspective approach to a being that is at once a mirror, a counterpart, and a warning.