Whale Fall, Netherlands

The artwork Whale Fall, by Australian artist Xinyi Wang, was created especially for Amsterdam Light Festival Edition 14 (2025-2026). It depicts the skeleton of a whale. Relating to the festival theme of Legacy, the artwork illustrates how all life is interconnected and continuous; when a whale dies, its body sinks to the ocean floor, where it becomes a source of nourishment for deep-sea life for decades to come.

With a specially curated piano performance, Amsterdam Light Festival, Greenpeace, and Het Scheepvaartmuseum joined forces to celebrated the entry into force of a groundbreaking global oceans treaty. The treaty aims to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Pianist Iris Hond performed a programme specially composed for this occasion. She sought a connection between the fragility of the artwork and the hope offered by the new treaty. Dozens of spectators in canoes and small boats attended the concert from the water.

Both the artwork and the museum served as a symbolic backdrop for the concert and the connection between humanity, art, and nature. The project is a showcase of how light art can be used as a medium to translate ideas, raise awareness and tell stories in the public space. A first step in the festival’s ambition to build upon the existing festival experience.