Patricia Piccinini's Skywhalepapa is a monumental sculpture in the form of a hot-air balloon. Together with its companion piece Skywhale they form a skywhale family.

Following their debut over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra 2021, the floating pair will continue to take to skies across Australia as a National Gallery touring event in 2026.

Piccinini believes Skywhales Across Australia is not only two spectacular sculptures but a performance piece:

“I imagine visitors assembling to watch Skywhalepapa coming to life, with a single skywhale figure we have a character, but with the two we have a relationship, and a narrative.” says Piccinini.

As the skywhales float across the dawn skies, Piccinini calls on communities to engage with them creatively. Make a morning of it, prepare a picnic, watch in awe, and sing along in wonder as the skywhale family takes flight.

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