Echoes – A Voice from Uncharted Waters

By Mathias Gmachl | San Francisco | Captured 2026

It’s been a while since I last explored San Francisco. Even though I stay updated with local news and know about popular art pieces like R-Evolution and Coralee, I was most mesmerized by what I call the whale installation at the Ferry Terminal Plaza.

The installation is massive, composed of metal strips. But because of the design, it feels lightweight, almost like strips of paper. As a result, the effect is airy and effortless. One of the best parts is that the whale has the best view of the SF financial district.

Even though I walked around the sculpture multiple times trying to activate the audio sensors, I didn’t hear anything. The whale's soundscape probably worked, but it was drowned out by loud music from the souvenir kiosks at WETA Plaza.

The Backdrop

Echoes is a life-sized art installation featuring a one-year-old blue whale calf, approximately 55 feet long and weighing 5 tons, made entirely from industrial steel. It invites visitor interaction and produces a calming, melodic underwater soundscape as visitors move around it.

Our whale has traveled around the world, stopping in major cities like Montreal, Vienna, and New York City before arriving in San Francisco. It is now prominently featured as part of the new 34-mile "Big Art Loop" trail.

‍ ‍

📸Life Glimpses‍     ‍‍🫂Connections‍


‍