Known for her hyperrealist sculptures of fleshy, humanoid creatures, Patricia Piccinini recently created an enormous fantastical character in the form of a hot air balloon titled The Sky Whale. Commissioned by the Centenary of Canberra, the majestic Sky Whale recently took flight over the Australian countryside for the first time. Driven by the desire to spark a sense of wonder in her viewers, Piccinini designed the otherworldly creature as a disruption of the mundane. Take a look at videos by Blueboat of the Sky Whale’s first flight and Piccinini’s studio, as well as some photos of the Sky Whale below courtesy ofTolarno Galleries.