Deep dive into the blue
"The strength of this exhibition lies in how it connects the global and the local," says Francesca Santoro, senior program officer of IOC-UNESCO.
"It reminds us that there is only one ocean that unites us all — without borders, sustaining life on Earth. At the same time, it celebrates the unique ecosystems of every place it visits. Here in Shanghai, we highlight the richness of China's seas, from vibrant mangroves to the world's deepest blue hole. By connecting people to their own coastal heritage, we inspire them to become stewards of our shared ocean.
"For its second stop in China, we're expanding our reach by inviting elementary school students from inland provinces like Guizhou, many of whom have never seen the sea before. We aim to provide these children with an understanding of the relationship between the ocean, the climate and human activity, and how each one influences the other. Through hands-on experiences that blend science and art, The Ocean & Climate Village connects the dots between the health of marine ecosystems and the environment as a whole."
On the fourth floor, a photography gallery offers a visual meditation on this theme.
Emmy-nominated environmental photographer and climate artist Enzo Barracco presents images from his expeditions to Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii and Alaska. His stark yet luminous shots reveal the fragility of marine environments under climate stress.
"Photography doesn't need translation," Barracco often says. His works speak directly across cultures and generations, urging viewers to see what words alone cannot convey.
The exhibition also includes documentaries recounting projects supported by Sea Beyond.
Kindergarten of the Lagoon tells the story of preschool children across the Venetian Lagoon who've had the chance to understand and love their local ecosystem through outdoor education.
Deep White Forests recounts the scientific research that led marine biologist Giovanni Chimienti to discover black coral in the waters of the Egadi Islands in Sicily, Italy.
