Exhibitions

One Ocean – Our Future

Opening date to be advised

Our only ocean is a mesmerising, mysterious and mainly unexplored place, critical to the existence of life on Earth. Although the ocean is vast, it is finite and its resources are limited. As our modern way of life produces pollutants and greenhouse gases, average global temperatures rise and the ocean – along with our future – changes with it.

PLUNGE INTO AUSTRALIA’S deep ocean, captured by the lights and cameras of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. The footage of a sleeping Dumbo octopus is certain to make you smile! In our virtual aquarium search for a rare short-tail catshark, an even rarer ram’s horn squid and a faceless cusk eel. Examine them up close via remote-sensing interactions.

We invite you to consider what’s happening to our ocean, including the effect on weather, marine life, our own existence and the future of our planet. Learn about these changes – and how to minimise their impact – through the eyes of artists and the voices of scientists and everyday people from across the globe.

A USA Program supported by the USA Bicentennial Gift Fund. Exhibition sponsor Schmidt Ocean Institute

ROV SuBastian encounters a nautilus in our virtual aquarium. Using gesture control, visitors can guide the ROV to seek out and examine five deep-ocean species – without getting their hands wet. Image courtesy Schmidt Ocean Institute

Haenyeo: the sea women of Jeju Island Now showing

The haenyeo are communities of Korean women who dive for hours at a time to harvest food from the sea floor. For generation after generation, they have performed this skilled, physical and dangerous work in all conditions and weathers. Large-scale photographic portraits by Korean artist Hyungsun Kim explore the human face of this centuries-old, sustainable sea harvest. sea.museum/haenyeo

Image Hyungsun Kim Fire on Water’s Edge Now showing

Through the words and images of Royal Australian Navy personnel and surf lifesavers, this exhibition documents the bushfires that devastated vast tracts of coastal Victoria and New South Wales over the summer of 2019–20. It also examines the immediate response to the events through the artists of the Bushfire Brandalism Collective, their works making a strong plea for climate action in the wake of destruction. A free outdoor exhibition in the museum’s Wharf 7 Forecourt. sea.museum/fire-on-waters-edge

Image Andrew Worssam Sanyo Maru: shipwrecked off Arnhem Land Opening date to be advised

In the 1930s, Japanese pearlers dived offshore and traded with Aboriginal peoples onshore in Arnhem Land. What can we learn from the wreck of one of their largest vessels, Sanyo Maru, off the Northern Territory coast? This project was assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 56 Until 31 October

This world-renowned exhibition features 100 awe-inspiring images, from fascinating animal behaviour to breathtaking landscapes. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photographic event of its kind, providing a global platform that has showcased the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights for more than 55 years. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. sea.museum/wildlife Mariw Minaral (Spiritual Patterns) Now showing

For the first time, we bring together works by artist Alick Tipoti, from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands). Tipoti is respected for his work in regenerating cultural knowledge and language. His storytelling encompasses traditional cosmology, marine environments and ocean conservation – focusing on what it means to be a sea person. Mariw Minaral showcases Tipoti’s linocuts, award-winning sculptural works, contemporary masks and film. sea.museum/mariw-minaral In light of the extended COVID-19 lockdowns in Sydney, the museum remains closed at the time of publication. Please check our website sea.museum for updates to exhibition dates and museum opening hours.

Travelling Exhibitions Remarkable – stories of Australians and their boats (dates and venues subject to change) Cervantes Historical Society, WA 9 August–12 September City of Burnside, WA 13 October–18 September Devonport Museum, TAS 2 August–27 September Moruya District Historical Society, NSW 20 September–31 October Port MacDonnell Community Complex, SA 6 August–30 September Queenscliffe Maritime Museum, VIC 18 September–10 October Tacoma Preservation Society, SA 4 September–18 September

With over 1,087 rivers and a coast that stretches more than 36,000 kilometres, it’s no surprise that Australia’s history abounds with stories of people who have lived and worked on the water. This banner exhibition presents 12 stories, canvassed from the breadth of Australia, that explore the remarkable connections between people and their boats. Remarkable has been produced by the Australian Maritime Museums Council, its members, and the Australian National Maritime Museum. This project was assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program. Voyage to the Deep – underwater adventures DoSeum, San Antonio, Texas, USA Until 12 September

Based on French author Jules Verne’s 1870 classic, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, the exhibition brings to life the adventures of Captain Nemo, his fantastical Nautilus submarine and his mythical world. Kids can slip on a deep-sea dive suit and venture through the world below the waves, including the octopus’ garden with its giant clamshell, a giant squid to slide down, and a maze of seaweed to wander through in the kelp forest. They can also explore the lost world of Atlantis.

Sea Monsters – prehistoric ocean predators Auckland War Memorial Museum, New Zealand Until 25 October

An exhibition combining real fossils, gigantic replicas, multimedia and handson experiences to reveal ancient monsters of the deep. Find out how three main types of ancient reptiles – ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and mosasaurs – left the land to rule the seas. In the oceans, they developed into awesome, enormous predators that make today’s great white sharks seem almost friendly! sea.museum/sea-monsters-travelling James Cameron – challenging the deep Telus World of Science, Alberta, Canada 9 November 2021–3 April 2022

In an exhibition that integrates the power of the artefact and the thrill of experience, visitors will encounter the deep-ocean discoveries, technical innovations and scientific and creative achievements of underwater explorer James Cameron. Created by the Australian National Maritime Museum’s USA Programs and supported by the USA Bicentennial Gift Fund. Produced in association with Avatar Alliance Foundation and toured internationally by Flying Fish. flyingfishexhibits.com/cameron

Through a Different Lens – Cazneaux by the water Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, NSW 13 November 2021–6 February 2022

For more than 50 years, Harold Cazneaux’s camera captured the romance and life of the world as it changed around him. Water was the perfect medium for his experimentations with creating mood, atmosphere and impression on the picture plane. This exhibition features 42 original pieces of Cazneaux’s art.

Dates listed for onsite and travelling exhibitions are subject to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, and may change at short notice. Please check our website at sea.museum for updates. Brickwrecks – sunken ships in LEGO® bricks Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle, WA Until 30 January 2022

Featuring large-scale LEGO® models, Brickwrecks explores the history and archaeology of some of the world’s most famous shipwrecks including Batavia, Titanic, Vasa, Terror and Erebus. The exhibition is developed and designed by the Western Australian Maritime Museum in partnership with the Australian National Maritime Museum and Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught.

Harold Cazneaux, A Study in Curves. ANMM Collection 00054649