As polar temperatures plunged the nation into nearly unlivable tundra conditions, marine life in Hawai’i sprang to action with a frenzy seen only once a year. Humpback whales migrate to the area’s waters in droves for breeding season, which begins in January and crescendoes in February. To celebrate the momentous annual occasion, Spanish street artist Antonio Segura Donat aka Dulk ventured to Maui, and completed his latest mural titled “Legacy”.
Dulk has visited the island state before, and his press release for the mural explains, “last year 2018 I was in Hawai’i and I had the chance to see the humpback whales in the wild.” He was invited to create a mural on this trip by Pangeaseed Foundation, an organization with a mission “to empower individuals and communities to create meaningful environmental change for oceans through ARTivism, education, and science.” Dulk states that when he received the invitation, he “didn’t hesitate [to begin] work on a piece based on these magical creatures. I also had the chance to see them one more time this year before starting the mural thanks to pacificwhalefoundation.”
Whales are among the most intelligent, sensitive, fun-loving creatures in the sea. Although they live underwater, they are actually mammals, and share our requirement for nurture to supplement nature. The American Cetacean Society explains that whales communicate through unique songs they learn from each other. They are majestic creatures whose acrobatics can reach 40 feet above the ocean’s surface. Profoundly affected by their beauty, the artist stated that “working on this piece has been really emotional for me.”
“Legacy” showcases whales’ social nature, featuring two whales swimming together through a tumbling orange wave. Dulk’s work is complex, and invites a close examination to that exposes countless new details with each passing moment. Within the whales’ figures, the viewer can find marine creatures across every level of the food chain, from eels to clams. The composition seems to assert the whales’ role as overseer of life below sea level. Despite the mural’s vibrant tone, which is indicative of Dulk’s style, hues of orange and yellow evokes a toxic tone. A metal harpoon protruding from the scene heightens this sense. The animals’ expressions look somewhat menacing. Dulk calls the viewer to action by reminding them that their environment faces peril.
Warm weather alone does not beckon travelers to visit Hawai’i each year. The state’s luscious landscape and teeming ecosystem remind us of the beauty that makes life on Earth so special. Without our animal brethren and the environment that allows them to thrive, we would be a lonely species. The message found in “Legacy” and the organizations that made its completion possible both entreat the world to take note of what truly lies at stake.
