23.04.26 – 06.05.26, Wij zijn de walvis

An unusual sight at the Bijloke site: for the first time, a 16-metre-long humpback whale has washed ashore. With an official unveiling on 23 April, Wim Opbrouck welcomes the “Wij zijn de walvis” project to Ghent.

You may have spotted the whale before at Pukkelpop, in Ostend or Kortrijk, but now it’s Ghent’s turn. ‘Wij zijn de walvis’ is an art and awareness-raising project. The beached whale symbolises universal vulnerability – not just that of whales and nature, but of ourselves as well.

This Ghent edition is a collaboration between the Institute for Research into the Enchantment of the Seas (IOBZ), the City of Ghent, Ghent University, Artevelde University College, HOGENT, Bijlokesite and Buren van de Abdij.

In a world that is spinning ever faster, many are left behind. People facing vulnerability – whether due to mental, social or physical challenges – often struggle to feel seen and connected.

Through this project, we aim to create space for vulnerabilities, make the issues surrounding them open for discussion, and focus on connection and resilience. This will result in a whole series of activities in which residents of Ghent, students and care workers paint together, make music, share stories and much more.