Art & Culture

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever”
Jacques Yves Cousteau‍

Within One Ocean Foundation's commitment to environmental awareness and education, art - in all its forms - becomes a key ally, combining beauty and inspiration with science and concrete action.

Art becomes a catalyst for change, promoting greater awareness and active engagement in the protection of marine ecosystems. This approach allows One Ocean Foundation not only to celebrate the beauty of the ocean, but also invites people to protect it for future generations.

Our initiatives

Arte in mare

In 2023, the Foundation strengthens its commitment towards the younger generations by activating a new partnership with the Brera Academy by developing a workshop for students dedicated to the protection of the ocean. The workshop "Arte in Mare" aims to sensitize and involve young artists in a process of transformation: an encounter between two worlds that opens an educational dialogue connecting science and art.

The project aim is to bring to maximum expression the relationship between the themes of protection of the sea and art with the young artists of the Academy and their different forms of expression, to break the patterns, anticipate scenarios, trends and behaviors. The students' works from the Academy were presended during various events, such as the second and third editions of One Ocean Week Milan.

Neptune’s Abyss

On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2024, One Ocean Foundation presents an immersive installation to reflect on the importance of the sea, its resources, and all its potential.

Through the photographic and sound work of multidisciplinary artist Yu Lin Humm, this exhibition sheds light on the rising temperature of the ocean.

With sustainability at its core, the installation showcases a meticulous selection of materials, each chosen for its environmentally friendly attributes and deep respect for the natural world. The material research has been conducted putting the ocean at the forefront.

Open-air cinema

The third edition of One Ocean Week Milan 2024 featured films dedicated to the sea: documentaries, unreleased, historic and short films successfully filled four evenings at the Darsena, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and revitalizing an often-overlooked urban area.

The evenings were made possible through collaboration with the Ocean Film Festival, the Cineteca di Milano, and the Riviera International Film Festival.

A way to make the city of Milan more curious and inclusive, promoting ocean culture in an accessible manner.

Nell’oceano di Tethys

From June to September 2024, the Foundation has decided to support the realization of the exhibition “Nell’Oceano di Tethys” by Louise Manzon, curated by Marina Mojana at the Civic Aquarium of Milan.

Louise Manzon's work is part of a project aimed at raising awareness and inspiring change, placing each of us at the center of the fight for ocean preservation and inviting us to reflect on the beauty and importance of primordial seas, encouraging us to protect them.

Over the years, One Ocean Foundation has worked with a variety of artists, institutions, art academies, and film festivals, fostering collaborations that explore the intersection of creativity and ocean conservation.

These partnerships include collaborations with the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, the International Riviera Film Festival, and the Pianeta Mare Film Festival, among others, highlighting the power of art to inspire action for the protection of the ocean.