Prada Rong Zhai Welcomes SEA BEYOND: A Journey Through Art, Science, and Ocean Awareness
By PAGE Editor
From October 10 to 19, Prada Rong Zhai — the historic 1918 residence in the heart of Shanghai — will host SEA BEYOND, an immersive program of educational activities and exhibitions designed to deepen public understanding of the relationship between the ocean and humanity. The initiative, a collaboration between the Prada Group and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, aims to inspire awareness and action for the protection of the world’s oceans through a multidisciplinary experience combining art, science, and storytelling.
“We are delighted to host SEA BEYOND at Prada Rong Zhai, where we bring together art and science to inspire a deeper connection with the ocean,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at the Prada Group. “Through this initiative, we maintain a strong focus on the 71% of our planet covered by water and the urgent need to protect it.”
A Historic Space for a Living Ocean
Inside Rong Zhai, visitors will embark on a journey through multiple rooms transformed into narrative spaces reflecting the building’s unique architectural identity. The Ocean & Climate Village — an interactive science exhibition by UNESCO’s IOC — will take over the grand Ballroom beneath its iconic stained-glass skylight. The exhibition explores the ocean’s crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, addressing themes such as marine biodiversity, ocean acidification, and rising sea levels.
Having previously been showcased in Barcelona, Naples, Venice, Milan, and Qingdao, the exhibition now arrives in Shanghai to highlight the country’s rich marine ecosystems — from mangrove forests to the world’s deepest blue hole. “The strength of the Ocean & Climate Village is how it connects the global and the local,” said Francesca Santoro, IOC Senior Programme Officer. “It reminds us that there is just one ocean that unites us all... By connecting communities to their own coastal heritage, we empower them to become stewards of our shared ocean.”
The Power of Visual Storytelling
The fourth floor of Rong Zhai will feature a selection of works by Emmy-nominated environmental photographer and climate artist Enzo Barracco. His striking photographs, captured during expeditions to Antarctica, the Galapagos, Hawaii, and Alaska, narrate the beauty and fragility of marine environments under threat. Barracco’s belief that “photography doesn’t need translation” underscores his mission to use visual language as a bridge across cultures to raise awareness about climate change.
Conversations and Cultural Exchange
To mark the opening, a series of thematic talks will unite global experts, artists, and scientists to explore how cross-sector collaboration and creative storytelling can advance ocean literacy. Speakers include Francesca Santoro, Professor Fangli Qiao (First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China), Philip Tinari (Director of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art), SAKANA-KUN (Ichthyologist, Professor, Artist), Enzo Barracco, and Titouan Bernicot, Goodwill Ambassadors for SEA BEYOND.
Complementing these discussions, open-air screenings in the garden will feature documentaries supported by SEA BEYOND, including Kindergarten of the Lagoon — following Venetian preschoolers learning from their local lagoon — and Deep White Forests, chronicling marine biologist Giovanni Chimienti’s discovery of black coral in Sicily’s Aegadian Islands.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Children’s workshops, designed for ages 6–16, will integrate science and art through hands-on activities. Participants will explore marine ecosystems, learn about ocean conservation, and engage in creative projects — from fish species lessons led by SAKANA-KUN to traditional rock color painting inspired by Chinese mural traditions.
In collaboration with the UCCA Foundation and UNESCO’s IOC, SEA BEYOND will also extend its educational mission to China’s inland provinces. A group of elementary students from Guizhou, many of whom have never seen the sea, will travel to Shanghai to visit the exhibition and experience the coast firsthand. Following the event, a Marine Science Cultural Kit — featuring interactive materials, illustrations, and lesson guides — will be distributed to schools across Yunnan and Guizhou, reaching 800 children and empowering teachers to introduce ocean education in inland classrooms.
Through this initiative, Prada and UNESCO reaffirm their shared commitment to fostering environmental awareness, proving that the ocean’s story can begin anywhere — even far from the shore.
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