Milan, Shanghai, 30 September 2025 – From October 10 to 19, Prada Rong Zhai – the historic residence located in the heart of Shanghai, built in 1918 – will open its doors for the first time to SEA BEYOND to host a multi-faceted program of educational activities for children and adults, with the aim of promoting a better understanding of the relationships between the ocean and human beings, and how each influences the other.

Listed as a cultural heritage site of Shanghai's Jing'an district in 2004 and among the city’s most relevant historic buildings, Rong Zhai was inaugurated in 2017 after a meticulous restoration by the Prada Group initiated in 2011. As a cultural landmark of Prada in China, Rong Zhai stands not only as a masterpiece of architectural artistry but also as a site of creative expression.

Visitors will be invited to embark on a journey to discover the sea and its ecosystems, as well as the urgent challenges it faces. The experience will unfold across several rooms, each shaped by Rong Zhai’s distinctive stylistic identity. The original spaces – featuring works of art and antique objects – will serve as an evocative backdrop for immersive narratives dedicated to our relationship with the ocean.

Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Prada Group, commented: “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, with the ultimate goal to spread knowledge and transform it into action. Through this initiative, we maintain a strong focus on the 71% of our planet covered by water, and the urgent need to protect it, as SEA BEYOND has been committed to doing since its start in 2019.”

The Ocean & Climate Village – a travelling, immersive and interactive science exhibition developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO that explores the complex connections between the ocean and the global climate – will welcome guests in the Ballroom, the historic room of Prada Rong Zhai originally used for parties and formal events, under a massive stained-glass skylight made of sixty-nine panels. The exhibition is making its second stop in China, after being hosted in the coastal city of Qingdao in October 2023, and showcased in Barcelona, Naples, Venice and Milan.

Visitors will explore the ocean’s role in regulating Earth’s climate through themed areas, covering marine biodiversity, climate science, ocean acidification, rising sea levels, and the impact of individual and collective action. Interactive tools like infographics, photos, and tactile installations will bring these urgent issues to life, including the UpSeaDown installation, which will show how global warming has expanded the volume of the ocean, and how this trend may continue, on a timeline from 1940 to 2100; Feel the Change, which will allow visitors to touch models of marine ecosystems in both their natural and acidified states. The FIO (First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources) and the DCC-OCC (UN Decade Collaborative Centre on the Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination Amongst Decade Implementing Partners in P.R. China) have supported the adaptation of the exhibition to the local context.

Francesca Santoro, IOC Senior Programme Officer, commented: “The strength of the Ocean&Climate Village is how it connects the global and the local. It reminds us that there is just one ocean that unites us all: it has no borders and it sustains all life on Earth. At the same time, the exhibition celebrates the unique marine ecosystems of every place it visits. Here in Shanghai, we explore the richness and diversity of China’s seas, which are home to vibrant mangroves and the world’s deepest blue hole. By connecting communities to their own coastal heritage, we empower them to become stewards of our shared ocean.”

The fourth floor will host a selection of the best shots of Emmy-nominated environmental photographer and climate artist Enzo Barracco. Photographs captured during his expeditions to Antarctica, the Galapagos, Hawaii, and Alaska will be featured, offering a rich visual narrative of some of the planet’s most extraordinary marine environments and the impact of climate change.
As in all his works, Barracco uses photography as a universal language to raise awareness of changing climate. True to his belief that “photography doesn’t need translation”, his work speaks directly to audiences across cultures and generations.

To mark the opening of the event, a series of thematic talks will offer diverse perspectives on ocean education. The discussions will explore the role of cross-sector collaborations, the emotional impact of storytelling, and the power of art to raise awareness. Among the speakers in attendance: Francesca Santoro, IOC Senior Programme Officer; Professor Fangli Qiao, Member of Academia Europaea, Deputy Director General of The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, and Director of UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Centre on Ocean-Climate Nexus; Philip Tinari, Director of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art; SAKANA-KUN, Ichthyologist, Professor, Artist and Enzo Barracco and Titouan Bernicot, Goodwill Ambassadors of the SEA BEYOND project.

Documentaries recounting projects supported by SEA BEYOND will enrich the journey: “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” will tell the story of preschool children across the Venetian Lagoon who’ve had the chance to understand and love their local ecosystem through outdoor education; and “Deep White Forests” will recount the scientific research that led marine biologist Giovanni Chimienti to find black coral in the waters of the Aegadian Islands in Sicily, Italy. On the opening days, the garden of Prada Rong Zhai will serve as the perfect setting for the outdoor screening of these documentaries.

Learning workshops designed for children aged 6-16 blend science, art, and ocean awareness into engaging, hands-on experiences. Participants will explore the wonders of marine life while gaining insight into environmental issues like ocean pollution and rising sea levels. Activities will include learning about some popular fish species among children with renowned Japanese ichthyologist SAKANA-KUN, stepping into the perspective of endangered marine species, and exploring the connection between art and nature through traditional rock color painting originated in Chinese mural traditions.

The educational and cultural content of the overall experience has been developed and contributed by the UCCA Foundation, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. As part of its institutional mission to deepen lives and transcend boundaries, UCCA Foundation creates art-powered programs designed to encourage children to explore creative thinking, produce original artwork, and engage with the world through artistic expression.