OCEAN: Diving into the Unknown Final Clap

🌊 A Memorable Dive Comes to an End

From 30 May to 30 August 2025, Alliance Française de Singapour proudly hosted OCEAN: Diving into the Unknown, an extraordinary exhibition produced by the French National Museum of Natural History as part of the French Excellence programme and the vOilah! France Singapore Festival.

This ambitious project invited visitors on an immersive journey into the depths of the ocean, a realm where science, myth, and visual poetry converge. Over three months, the exhibition became not only a space for discovery and wonder, but also a vibrant platform for dialogue around culture, art, and urgent environmental challenges.

A Deep Dive into Heritage and Science

OCEAN celebrated France’s rich maritime heritage, shedding light on iconic literary works such as Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and the legacy of pioneering explorers and scientists who unveiled the mysteries of the deep.

From enigmatic creatures of the abyss to the fragile balance of marine ecosystems, the exhibition offered a rare opportunity to experience the ocean’s secrets, while highlighting the vital importance of protecting this natural treasure.

Ocean Grace: Art meets Conservation

Running alongside OCEAN: Diving into the Unknown, the Ocean Grace exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, showcased the poetic underwater photography of PHOCTOPUS - Olivier Jude and Sylvie Laurent. Their raw and authentic images, free from digital retouching, revealed the fragile harmony of marine ecosystems.

The exhibition also translated into action: the sale of the photographs supported the 100K Corals Initiative, a project dedicated to restoring coral reefs and safeguarding marine biodiversity for the future.

A Rich Programme of Events

Far more than an exhibition, OCEAN unfolded as a multi-disciplinary cultural experience, engaging thousands of visitors through live performances, workshops, and screenings.

Storytelling & Performances: From Courtney Kelly’s inspiring bilingual reading Celeste Save the City, to the unique multidisciplinary performance Reflections in Blue, audiences were swept into moving stories connected to the sea.
Workshops: The “Art & Bubbles” series invited participants to experiment with different creative approaches: working with shells and sand for textured seascapes, using pastels to design postcards, or exploring pointillism to paint marine landscapes.
Cinema: A curated programme of around fifteen films and documentaries invited audiences to explore the ocean in all its dimensions, from cult classics like The Big Blue to contemporary titles such as Io Capitano. The line-up also featured screenings for kids, bringing ocean and nature-inspired stories to younger audiences, making the ocean resonate as both a stage for human journeys and a fragile ecosystem to protect.
Holiday Camps for Kids: Young explorers discovered the underwater world through playful, hands-on activities, combining creativity with French language learning.

A Lasting Impact

OCEAN was met with resounding success:

3,847 visitors walked through our gallery doors.
The exhibition and its events were featured 80 times across major outlets such as Time Out, Elle Singapore, or Expat Living.
Alliance Française was invited on CNA938 for an in-depth interview.
The exhibition was honoured by the visit of Madame Brigitte Macron, who discovered its treasures during her official trip to Singapore (for more details, see our previous article on her visit).

These milestones reflect the strong resonance OCEAN created within the Singaporean community and beyond, reinforcing Alliance Française’s mission to be a hub for cultural dialogue, education, and environmental awareness.

Merci and See You Again !

As we close this chapter, we warmly thank our partners, artists, visitors, and the entire community who contributed to the success of OCEAN. Your curiosity, passion, and engagement turned this exhibition into a truly collective celebration of knowledge, beauty, and responsibility towards our blue planet.

We warmly thank our partners - Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (National University of Singapore), the Ambassade de France à Singapour, and ENGIE - whose support greatly contributed to the success of this exhibition.

Stay tuned for our upcoming exhibitions and cultural events, the journey of discovery continues at Alliance Française de Singapour!