‘All mortal greatness is but disease’ Exhibition

One of the cruellest and most gruesome endeavours inflicted upon the natural world, industrial whaling pushed some species almost to extinction. In the Antarctic alone, nearly 1.6 million whales were killed between 1900-1960.

‘All mortal greatness is but disease’ explores the stark, ambivalent story of industrial whaling.

Through history, science, photography and art, the exhibition focuses on Scotland’s substantial but largely forgotten contribution to this industry and the Scots for whom whaling provided an unrivalled opportunity for prosperity and adventure.

The exhibition, which goes on show in the Museum’s vast, Victorian, glass-roofed Linthouse on Irvine Harbourside, concludes with a look at whales and whaling today across the globe.

Content Warning This exhibition features graphic images and descriptions of whales being hunted, killed and processed.