Dreamdoodle’s Whale Tales mural started with one fact: whales help fight climate change. I painted it live in Toronto’s Junction for Window Wonderland 2024, with Cool Earth Architecture as the window partner.
Here’s the science behind it, and how the mural came together.
![[VERIFY against the image] Whale Tales mural artwork by Dreamdoodle for Window Wonderland 2024 in Toronto's Junction.](https://www.thedreamdoodle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Window-Wonderland-2024-Website-Cover-2160x1080px-01-1024x530.png)
At a glance
- Mural
- Whale Tales, a hand-painted whale by Celia Pang.
- Event
- Window Wonderland 2024, the Junction BIA’s holiday art walk in Toronto.
- Window partner
- Cool Earth Architecture.
- Painted
- Live, starting the first weekend of October 2024.
- On view
- November 29, 2024 to January 31, 2025.
- Augmented reality
- A 2D animation by Cara Watson, viewed through the Artivive app.
- The message
- Saving whales means saving our planet.
How whales help fight climate change
Whales are part of how the ocean stores carbon. Scientists call it the whale pump, and it works in four steps.
- Whales release nutrientsTheir nutrient-rich waste spreads through the water near the surface.
- Phytoplankton growThose nutrients feed phytoplankton, the tiny plant-like organisms that drift in the ocean.
- Phytoplankton absorb CO2As they grow, phytoplankton take carbon dioxide out of the water and the air above it.
- Carbon sinks to the deepWhen phytoplankton die, they sink and carry that carbon down into the deep ocean.
More whales means more phytoplankton and more carbon kept out of the air. Whales also support biodiversity, so protecting them helps keep the whole ocean ecosystem in balance.
Saving whales means saving our planet.
How the mural came together
The project began with Cool Earth Architecture, the window partner for my piece. Their work focuses on buildings that respond to climate change, so I started researching how climate change and nature connect.
That’s where I learned how much whales do for the carbon cycle. Everyone agreed on the idea straight away, and I got to draw one of my favourite animals. I painted the whale live in the window over the first weekend of October, then animator Cara Watson brought it to life with a 2D animation that visitors could watch through the Artivive app.
- Event
- Junction BIA, Window Wonderland 2024
- Window partner
- Cool Earth Architecture
- Animation
- Cara Watson
- AR app
- Artivive
- Artist
- Celia Pang, Dreamdoodle
Keep exploring
- Shop the Protect Our Giants whale sticker
A holographic whale sticker from my ocean conservation series.
- Watch the Window Wonderland timelapse
The whale going up in the window, start to finish.
- Get the free whale coloring page
A printable whale doodle to colour at home.
- See my mural work on Dreamstudio
Custom hand-painted murals for offices, shops, and homes.
Questions about whales and the mural
How do whales help fight climate change?
Whales release nutrient-rich waste near the ocean surface. It feeds phytoplankton, which absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and carry that carbon to the deep ocean when they die. Scientists call this the whale pump.
What is Window Wonderland?
Window Wonderland is a holiday art walk in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood, run by the Junction BIA. The 2024 edition was a free outdoor gallery of 20 augmented reality window installations and ten murals by local and international artists.
Who made the Whale Tales mural?
I did. I’m Celia Pang, the Toronto doodle artist behind Dreamdoodle. I painted the whale live for Window Wonderland 2024 with Cool Earth Architecture as the window partner, and Cara Watson created the AR animation.
Can I commission a whale mural?
Yes. I paint custom murals for offices, shops, and homes across the Greater Toronto Area. Send the details through my contact page and I’ll reply with questions or a quote.
Have a wall or window with a story to tell? I paint custom murals for offices, shops, and homes across the Greater Toronto Area.