ニュース

Milan, Shanghai, 11^th October 2025 – On October 11th, Prada Rong Zhai –  the historic residence located in the heart of Shanghai – officially opened its doors for the first time to SEA BEYOND, with a multi-faceted program of educational activities for children and adults that promote a better understanding of the relationships between the ocean and human beings, and how each influences the other. The initiative welcomed 1600 people over the first two days.

In the Ballroom, visitors can learn about the vital role the ocean plays in regulating the planet’s climate at the Ocean&Climate Village – the travelling, immersive, interactive science exhibition developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO – making its second stop in China after its debut in Qingdao in October 2023.

THEMATIC TALKS

"Ocean literacy and global collaboration”
A conversation among Francesca Santoro, IOC Senior Program Officer, Dr. Fangli Qiao Member of Academia Europaea, Deputy Director General of the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, Director of UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-climate Nexus, and Philip Tinari, Director, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, to highlight the global mission of ocean literacy and the importance of cross-sector collaborations, where art can play an important role, in order to build a more informed, engaged, and sustainable relationship with the ocean.

“Emotions, storytelling, and ocean protection”
SAKANA-KUN, renowned Japanese Ichthyologist, Professor and Artist, joined Titouan Bernicot, Founder of Coral Gardeners and SEA BEYOND Goodwill Ambassador in a dialogue moderated by podcaster Zhang Zhiqi to explore the emotional, narrative, and scientific dimensions of ocean conservation. The panel recounted how a childhood passion for the marine environment – fish for SAKANA-KUN, corals for Titouan Bernicot – sparked a lifelong commitment to ocean protection. This early fascination evolved into careers dedicated to protecting the sea: one through scientific outreach, the other through coral reef restoration. The conversation was also joined by actor Bai YuFan, who recounted his passion for the sea, which he developed despite growing up in an inland province. All of them emphasized the power of communication as a tool to engage and educate broad and diverse audiences through different platforms and tools.

“Photography’s role in climate awareness”
An intimate conversation between Enzo Barracco, Emmy nominated Environmental Photographer and Climate Artist, and Francesca Santoro, IOC Senior Program Officer, on the role of visual art in promoting ocean preservation and environmental responsibility. Focusing on the beauty of nature, the dialogue highlighted how art can bridge science and society, raising awareness and inspiring action for the planet.

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS

Young visitors were engaged in educational workshops that blended science, art, and ocean awareness through lively, hands-on experiences. During the opening days, children explored ocean pollution and its impact on marine life (“Ocean kaleidoscope: rescue the whale”), learned how sea level rise affects both marine and human ecosystems and discovered nature-based solutions (“Land and sea: mini-ecosystems”), and got to know the most iconic fish species in Chinese waters through live drawing and storytelling by SAKANA-KUN (“Secrets of the Sea: A Journey into the World of Fish”).