This immersive installation offers a poetic meditation on the perspective of a sperm whale.
Wu Tsang (born 1982 in Worcester, Massachusetts) is a cross-disciplinary artist who makes narrative and documentary film, live performance, and video installations. The immersive installation Of Whales forms part of her filmic trilogy inspired by Herman Melville’s classic 1851 American novel Moby Dick. Of Whales offers a poetic meditation on the perspective of a sperm whale, who plunges to the depths of the ocean for an hour at a time, surfacing occasionally for a breath of air. Created on the Unity gaming platform with XR (extended reality) technologies, the dynamically generated real-time video and sound installation immerses viewers in a lush, dreamy oceanscape for imagination, contemplation, and provocation. First presented at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022, the work features a musical score composed by Asma Maroof and Daniel Pineda, with Tapiwa Svosve, Jalalu-Kalvert Nelson, Miao Zhao, and Ahya Simone. The score blends horns, saxophone, clarinet, and contrabass, in a multi-layered soundscape that fills the entire gallery space. At the ICA, Of Whales is presented in a gallery adjacent to the Boston Harbor, connecting audiences to the ICA’s waterside location and referencing New England’s whaling history.
Nonmember $20.00
Senior (60+) $17.00
Student* (with valid ID) $15.00
MTA/AFT Cardholder (1 admission per individual MTA or AFT card) $8.00
Library Pass Coupon** (pick up coupon at participating libraries) $5.00
Youth (13-18) $0.00
Youth (0-12) $0.00
Tickets for free Thursday nights will be available online at 10 AM on the day of the event.
Contact: (617) 478-3100
Email: visitorservices@icaboston.org
Additional time info:
Museum closes at 5pm with the exception of Thursday and Friday in which it closes at 9pm.
Phone: (617) 478-3100
Email: visitorservices@icaboston.org
Additional time info:
Museum closes at 5pm with the exception of Thursday and Friday in which it closes at 9pm.
2024/02/15 - 2024/08/04
The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston, MA 02210
Have a question that isn’t answered here? Contact Visitor Services at 617-478-3100 or visitorservices@icaboston.org.
Is the ICA accessible to visitors with disabilities and special needs?
The ICA is fully wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair seating and assistive listening devices are available in the Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theater; please contact the box office at 617-478-3103 or visitorservices@icaboston.org in advance to make a request. If you need further assistance, including sign language interpretation, please contact the box office at least two weeks in advance of the program.
Visitors with wheelchairs may be dropped off directly in front of the museum. Additional information can be found here.
ParkingThe ICA does not own or operate a parking garage. A list of parking options can be found here.
ArrivalThere is a curb cut in front of the museum’s public entrance, and visitors may be dropped off directly in front of this entrance. The public entrance is equipped with power-assist doors.
Admission is freefor recipients of federal disability assistance (SSDI, SSI, VA benefits, etc), plus one personal care attendant per visitor.
AnimalsAnimals are not permitted in the museum, with the exception of service animals as identified by the Americans with Disabilities Act.Learn more about our policy.
Quiet visitation hoursFor visitors interested in exploring the ICA during quieter times, we recommend visiting on a weekday mornings or late afternoons. Please note that some exhibitions include works with sound that can be heard throughout the galleries.