{"id":102782,"date":"2025-05-12T13:32:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T08:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/?p=102782"},"modified":"2025-05-12T13:32:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T08:02:20","slug":"art-for-oceans-french-institute-in-india-kicks-off-ocean-themed-festival-of-ideas-in-goa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/?p=102782","title":{"rendered":"Art for Oceans: French Institute in India kicks off\u00a0ocean-themed Festival of Ideas in Goa"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\":1qq\" class=\"ii gt\">\n<div id=\":1n8\" class=\"a3s aiL \">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<div class=\"gmail_quote\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>A multitude of activities to engage with the topic of ocean protection, especially for the young<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Dive back into Jules Verne\u2019s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, or explore the ocean through the lens of Indian literature\u2014from Rudyard Kipling to Amitav Ghosh.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Think. Play. Feel.\u00a0 Engage. Connect.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>You Are the Ocean.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Goa Khabar:<\/strong> Global average sea level has risen by 8\u20139 inches since 1880 \u2014 and it&#8217;s on the rise. Meaning? Ocean ecosystems need our undivided attention now. With the planet&#8217;s marine life as its focus this year, the Festival of Ideas in India, titled \u201cWe Are the Ocean\u201d, has opened at the <b>Museum of Goa<\/b>\u00a0and will run till\u00a0May 18, 2025. Organised by the\u00a0French Institute in India, it will host a multitude of parallel events, ranging from\u00a0interactive art installations\u00a0and\u00a0film screenings\u00a0to\u00a0panel discussions\u00a0and\u00a0VR\u00a0experiences, to emphasize the core idea that oceans are essential to maintaining the planet&#8217;s equilibrium.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">From artworks on seaside landscapes to a plankton \u2018ballet\u2019, there&#8217;s much to experience for both ecology and culture enthusiasts. At the heart of the festival, nine thought-provoking panel discussions &#8211; curated by\u00a0Dakshin Foundation\u00a0&#8211; bring together diverse voices from across India\u2019s coasts to spotlight the social, ecological, and political dimensions of ocean conservation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-102742\" src=\"https:\/\/goakhabar-com.preview.jikut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/09-MAY-25-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/09-MAY-25-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/09-MAY-25-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/09-MAY-25-1-80x80.jpg 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The month-long programme has been brought together by the\u00a0French Institute in India\u00a0in collaboration with the\u00a0Alliance Fran\u00e7aise network, the\u00a0French Development Agency (AFD- Agence Fran\u00e7aise de D\u00e9veloppement),\u00a0Dakshin Foundation\u00a0and\u00a0Mongabay India, with the support of The\u00a0Environmentalist Foundation of India, Tara Ocean Foundation, Nausica\u00e1, IFREMER, and\u00a0Oceanopolis.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Mr Damien Syed, Charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires a.i. of the Embassy of France in India, said:\u00a0\u201cWith The Festival of Ideas &#8211; We Are the Ocean, France reaffirms its commitment to making the ocean a shared global resource and a driver of Indo-French cooperation. Bringing together experts, artists and citizens, We Are the Ocean adopts a truly multidisciplinary approach to raise awareness about and work towards ocean action in the run-up to UNOC3.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The theme of this year\u2019s festival aligns with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021\u20132030) and leads up to the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Take a deep dip into the ocean<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">When entering the Alliance fran\u00e7aise Delhi, the visitor is welcomed by a giant wall of waves, diving down into the gallery Romain Rolland, one floor below. This monumental art installation symbolizes a rite of passage: once down there \u201cYou are no longer a visitor, you are a part of the Ocean\u201d.\u00a0 The famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau once said: &#8220;We love what we marvel at, and we protect what we love\u201d and this journey of Immersion is an attempt to create this sense of wonder:<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The gallery space becomes a poetic journey through the many faces of the sea\u2014its depths, its shores, and its surface. In 10 chapters, the exhibition explores the ocean&#8217;s environmental, societal, and emotional significance through large-scale photographs, video projections, soundscapes, and interactive installations, including VR experiences.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Some of the significant artworks in the gallery include:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Tidal Echoes by Nicolas Michel, a giant immersive installation that blends visual abstraction with real field recordings, aiming to capture the essence of the seaside landscape.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Floating Cities by Elsa Mroziewicz and C\u00e9cile Palusinski, an augmented reality sound artwork that creatively investigates the impact of rising sea levels amidst global population growth, continuous sea-level rise, and threats to ecosystems.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The Mermaid Tears\u2019 series by Samuel Bollendorf, where the artist created a dialogue between the beauty of the seascapes and the sad reality of the plastic nanoparticles taken from the same places.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The Plankton Ballet by Christian Sardet and No\u00e9 Sardet, an immersive film that invites the spectator to explore the drifting world of plankton, revealing cosmic prousts, frantic antipods, voluptuous pelagia and swarms of sea urchins larva.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Mermaid Tears and the Plankton Ballet were created when the artists were on board the schooner Tara, a French sailing ship used in a series of oceanic research expeditions that welcome artists on board.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the outdoor patio in front of the gallery, the visitor can move to the sound of the ocean drums, a percussion instrument designed to bring the soothing rhythm of the ocean waves right to your fingertips. To the left of the patio, a wall installation titled \u201cMy letter to UNOC\u201d serves as a repository to the visitor\u2019s wishes for a healthy and clean ocean while an ocean of plastic featuring most common human waste occupies the right of the space, creating a striking contrast between the two. These artistic installations were conceived by the creative minds of Studio Kilki, a new design agency that specializes in immersive and ecoresponsible installations.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">A multitude of activities to engage with the topic of ocean protection<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">A cosy reading space completes this inclusive, eco-conscious space designed to educate, engage, and inspire. Whether you want to dive back into Jules Verne\u2019s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, explore the ocean through the lens of Indian literature\u2014from Rudyard Kipling to Amitav Ghosh\u2014there&#8217;s something to spark everyone\u2019s imagination. A dedicated reading corner featuring a curated selection of ocean-themed books in French and English \u2014 ranging from timeless classics to colorful pop-up stories awaits you.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Several hands-on activities are being offered throughout the festival:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Want to gain expertise about the challenges faced by the ocean, in a fun and collaborative way? Sign up for The Ocean Collage workshop, a serious game designed to raise awareness about oceans.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Want to spark your creativity? Register for \u201cThe Rime of the Ocean\u201d, an immersive poetry writing workshop by DilliPoetry on the theme of ocean and vastness \u2013 both inner and outer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Love sewing and want to do something socially impactful? Sign up for the SilaiWali Ocean-inspired workshop on 17 May!! You\u2019ll not only learn the art of upcycling, but also dive into SilaiWali\u2019s inspiring mission of eco-conscious design, refugee empowerment, and circular craft.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">All poetry lovers are invited to the Open Mic Poetry event &#8211; \u201cPoetry from the Shores\u201d that will take place on May 11 at 6pm featuring special performances by Delhi Poetry Slam and Dillipoetry.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Curious about the art of upcycling? Join Plasticvala on his journey to eradicate plastic waste.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">To complete the experience, short film screenings and VR experiences that let visitors interact with plankton or dive into virtual ocean expeditions are accessible at all times in the gallery.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Discussing critical issues<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">India is the world\u2019s second-largest fish producer, and, yet, those who drive this sector face increasing challenges from climate change and shrinking marine resources. The exhibition &#8220;Faces of the Ocean&#8221;, curated by the French Development Agency, on view in the ground floor, sheds light on their vital role in food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience. The exhibition also highlights the Department of Fisheries&#8217; 2024 national scheme \u2014 the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) \u2014 aimed at fostering a more inclusive and efficient fisheries sector.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Throughout the festival, a series of conversations &#8211; in Delhi, Goa, Chennai and Pondicherry &#8211;\u00a0 brings a new lens &#8211; rooted in local wisdom, interdisciplinary expertise, and lived experience.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In \u2018Saving Our Seas: One Solution at a Time\u2019 that opened the festival in Delhi on 3rd May, speakers stressed that marine conservation efforts must be place-based, inclusive, and deeply rooted in justice for the communities who depend on coastal ecosystems. Panelists also called for greater international cooperation, acknowledging the interlinked nature of our oceans.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In Goa, panels explored tourism and the blue economy through a social and ecological lens.\u00a0\u2018Playground or Home? Rethinking Tourism and Sport in Coastal Zones\u2019 examined the growing tension between recreation and sustainability in fragile ecosystems. Meanwhile,\u00a0Can Blue Economy and Social Justice Co-Exist?\u00a0tackled one of the most pressing dilemmas of our time &#8211; how to reconcile economic development with equitable outcomes for coastal communities and environmental health. In both panels, a recurring theme emerged: development must be deeply participatory, anchored in traditional knowledge, and responsive to local contexts.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The festival continues to move along India\u2019s coasts with debates examining the critical issues at stake such as\u00a0Connected by Plastic &#8211; Humans and the Sea (Chennai, 10th May), Conserving\u00a0Ocean and Marine Biodiversity\u00a0(Pondicherry, 15th May) or \u2018Sea Level Rise and Fragile Ecosystems: Is Coastal Planning Up to the Task?\u2019 (Chennai, 17th May).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">One highlight of the festival will be the screening of the award-winning documentary \u201cAgainst the Tide\u201d followed by the panel discussion\u00a0Sustainable Seafood: Whose Job Is It, Really?\u2019 in Delhi on 16th May. Diverse voices from across the seafood value chain &#8211; from fishers to financiers &#8211; will examine how governments, markets, communities, and consumers must collectively shape the future of our seafood systems.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Across each session, the message is clear: ocean conservation cannot be achieved in silos. It calls for collaboration, courage, and a willingness to reimagine how we relate to our coasts and communities.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>A call to action\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">On the opening day, a powerful youth-led panel reminded us that real progress demands listening to the generation inheriting the climate crisis, not as a token gesture, but through genuine inclusion in decision-making. Social ecologist Madhuri Mondal greeted us with an optimistic message, stating that the youth is faced with \u201can ocean of challenges\u201d and \u201ca sea of opportunities.\u201d Climate justice advocate Ishita Dutta reminded us of the everyday struggle to make her voice heard while Environmentalist Foundation of India\u2019s founding-trustee Arun Krishnamurthy begged the audience to take action. The panel discussion, moderated by Alliance fran\u00e7aise Delhi\u2019s director Patricia Loison ended on the musical notes of rapper Sahir Doshi, famous for its witty social media clips engaging with wildlife creatures.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The discussion followed the screening of \u201cBigger Than Us\u201d, a moving documentary following climate and justice activists from around the world, from Greece to Indonesia and from Brazil to Uganda. Other screenings included gripping environmental thriller \u201cThe Green Tide\u201d and biopic \u201cBecoming Cousteau\u201d. The festival will end with the exclusive screening of \u201cThe Turtle Walker\u201d following Indian conservationist Satish Bhaskar as he embarked on an epic journey along India&#8217;s spectacular coastlines, living alongside rare sea turtles to unravel the mysteries that surround them.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Throughout its many facets, the festival emphasizes the pressing need to get together and come up with solutions to global issues. As part of its outreach program, the festival is also collaborating with schools to organize guided visits and curated programmes.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">For more information and to reach out:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifindia.in\/festival-of-ideas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.ifindia.in\/festival-of-ideas&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747121537695000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3YEbcVaMq_3dkkVQTCD6PV\">https:\/\/www.ifindia.in\/<wbr \/>festival-of-ideas<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"yj6qo\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\":1ob\" class=\"hq gt\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A multitude of activities to engage with the topic of ocean protection, especially for the young Dive back into Jules Verne\u2019s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, or explore the ocean through the lens of Indian literature\u2014from Rudyard Kipling to Amitav Ghosh. Think. Play. Feel.\u00a0 Engage. Connect. You Are the Ocean. Goa Khabar: Global average sea [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25169,"featured_media":102783,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[155,6],"tags":[3794],"class_list":["post-102782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-155","category-6","tag-featured"],"read":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/25169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=102782"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102784,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102782\/revisions\/102784"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/102783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=102782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=102782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goakhabar.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=102782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}