Keening – Song of the Stranding was a multidisciplinary art project commemorating the mass stranding of 55 long-finned pilot whales in the Outer Hebrides on 16 July 2023. It became a collective act of remembrance, a living memorial shaped through public participation and artistic collaboration.

The project wove together community-made whale sand sculptures and music inspired by whale vocalisations, a Gaelic lament, and the near-universal vocal practice of keening. As the tide slowly reclaimed the sculptures, returning the whales home, it became both a memorial and a reminder of our enduring bond with the natural world. Conceived in the wake of the stranding, and developing during its final months through workshops with local children and adults, the project brought together science, art, music, and community. Alongside the public work, it also gathered voices and words from the community, preserving their reflections for the future.