For generations of children, the concrete whale on Aberavon seafront has been a familiar place to climb, play and eat ice cream.

Built in 1986, the whale was threatened with demolition twenty years later. Local schoolchildren campaigned to save it, and this much-loved – if sometimes unusual – landmark remained part of the seafront.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Richard Morgan recreated the whale and its penguins using paper and glue. When the model was displayed, it sparked memories, laughter and stories from people who had known the whale throughout their lives.

One person remembered the whale very differently. When they were experiencing homelessness, its hollow mouth provided a place to shelter. Their story shows how the same place can hold very different meanings and memories for different people.

The Aberavon Whale shows how even the most unexpected landmarks can become part of a community’s story – connecting people to place through memories of both difficult and happier times.

Click the images to explore the artwork.