On Thursday, April 5, 2025, the “Oceanic Sentiment” Festival began in Nice at the Font du Mont Alban. A sensory and activist immersion into the ocean depths.
From June 5 to 8, the Fort du Mont Alban hosts Oceanic Sentiment, a unique artistic festival organized by the COAL association, on the occasion of the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC3). The objective? To raise public awareness of major ecological issues through a sensitive and immersive approach.
Performances, sound installations, videos, light, and presence of the living: everything is designed to awaken consciousness through emotion and wonder. Among the highlights, the exhibition Living Light offers a rare dive into the still little-known world of marine bioluminescence.
Light That Emerges from the Dark
Upon entering the installation, the visitor is plunged into total darkness. Only, as if by “magic,” do glimmers appear, emitted by phosphorescent photobacteria, these microorganisms capable of emitting phosphorescent light at more than 2,000 meters depth. Why this light? Because it has quite an attractive and unique way of communication. It cannot be found in all seas and oceans. It is found only in Puerto Rico and Cambodia.
Inside the castle, there are four rooms where citizens and tourists can see this marvel. Several guides illuminate people on this phenomenon. Advance booking is required as places are limited. In one of the rooms, you can see sculptures illuminated thanks to these bacteria, each with its own meaning. An incredible phenomenon.
Outside, visitors can enjoy small evenings at the Science Bar, which has an extraordinary view of Jean-Cap Ferrat.
Inspired by the research of scientist Raphaël Dubois, this sensory experience blurs the lines between science and poetry. It reminds us that only 5% of the ocean floors have been explored to date and that their share of mystery is also what makes them valuable.
Artists Attuned to the Living
Five international artists have been brought together for this exhibition: Antoine Bertin, Cameron Gainer, Nadia Jeremie Brugiolo, Merad Coliac, and Elvia Teotski. All work with the living and question our relationship to the ocean through different media.
The sound artist Antoine Bertin, for example, captures the depths’ vibrations using ultra-sensitive sensors installed in a building inspired by the shape of fish schools. A way to listen without disturbing, to feel without dominating.
An Urgency Conveyed by Emotion
Beyond the beauty of the works, the message conveyed by the event is clear: there is an urgent need to protect the oceans. Present on site, the co-founder of COAL, Lauranne Germon, delivered a strong appeal:
“It is absolutely and imperatively necessary to preserve what we have that is most precious, most necessary, most essential for survival… our survival, quite simply, and of all the beauty of the world that we want to continue to have and listen to. We must truly act and find solutions that are very concrete… the agreement is there, it just needs to be signed. These are commitments that must be made now, today or tomorrow, and that will have truly essential consequences for the survival and good health of the oceans and our health as well.”
The program can be found here.
