Becoming Ocean is a group exhibition and research project exploring humanity’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual connection with the ocean. Presented at the State Art Gallery in Sopot (PGS) in partnership with the Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences (IO PAN) and the University of Gdańsk, it expands from the Baltic Coast to a global perspective through international artists. Designed as an evolving exhibition, it invites arts organizations across Europe to host future iterations.
The exhibition examines what it means to “become ocean,” reconnecting human bodies to the vast waters that sustain life. Drawing on scientific research, it explores the deep-sea origins of life, oceanic intelligence, and our interconnected existence. Inspired by James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis and Glenn Edney’s view of the ocean as a living entity, it challenges human exceptionalism and anthropocentric thinking.
Through interdisciplinary works spanning ocean humanities, environmental studies, cybernetics, and indigenous knowledge, Becoming Ocean invites visitors to rethink humanity’s impact on the seas. It explores alternative perspectives on time, space, and existence, urging us to embrace the ocean’s rhythms and wisdom as a path toward a more interconnected and sustainable future.