Charles and Ray Eames Exhibition...a personal review.

I finally made it to the Barbican last week...to see the Eames Exhibition...unfortunately, it wasn't the positive experience I'd been expecting. Maybe I'm just not 'arty' enough but I found the venue dark and depressing and the exhibition itself rather lacking the 'wow' factor, bearing in mind the huge influence this couple had on mid-century design.
Don't get me wrong, there were highlights...the original copy of a poem from former Prime Minister,Tony Benn, stuck in my mind for days after...

And I discovered 'The Toy'...a building structure for kids that could be made into all sorts of play accessories...

And the exquisite examples of their handwriting...especially Ray Eames's tiny diary, open on the page that her husband died, and marked with just his initials...how poignant she died ten years later...to the very day!

And then there was this fellow...hanging in a prominent spot at the top of the stairs in the centre of the exhibition...!

Yes...a whale!
Can anyone help me out with the significance of this strangely appealing creature?
I'm assuming he was in the exhibition because, as seen here, he originally lived in the famous Eames House in Los Angeles...any ideas...?


All told, a mixed review I'm afraid...a small collection of personal highlights hidden within drab surroundings...
I'll leave you with the sort of colour-burst I'd expected...