‘Chasing the Whale’ is an exhibition in which several artists interpret Melville’s
Moby Dick, beloved for its psychological and spiritual symbolism.
Danielle Wallace’s
Moby-Dick Tea Set, 2009 features a large central, grey/whitish teapot (the whale) surrounded by warmly colored mugs (the seamen). It pours its essence (the tea) into the mugs (the humans; one is even crippled, as per Ahab). This is the idea of the whale as Self, or essence, cleverly employed and beautifully executed (only one white mug seems out of place).