Exhibitions

Mariw Minaral (Spiritual Patterns)

Now showing

Alick Tipoti is arguably the most important artist of his generation from Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait Islands), and Mariw Minaral is the first retrospective of his works.

A CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST, Alick Tipoti is highly respected for his work in regenerating cultural knowledge and language. Guided by the traditional cultural practices of his people, Tipoti’s storytelling encompasses traditional cosmology, marine environments and ocean conservation – focusing on what it means to be a sea person. Tipoti is revered for his sophistication and ability to spread his concerns and messages through his art. Among the works on display will be the sculptures Kisay Dhangal (Moonlight Dugong), made from bronze and pearl shell, and Kaygasiw Usul – which means ‘the trail of dust underwater created by the shovel nose shark’ in the language of the Maluyligal People. Also on show will be some of Tipoti’s large-scale linocut prints, whose intricate detail highlights the artist’s skill.

sea.museum/mariw-minaral

Ocean Wonders Until September

Over the past two years, Schmidt Ocean Institute has collaborated with research institutions from across Australia and the globe. Their mission: to explore the deepest and most remote parts of selected Australian and Pacific marine environments. Ocean Wonders can be viewed at the museum’s Wharf 7 forecourt. Ocean Wonders is delivered in partnership with Schmidt Ocean Institute

Image Schmidt Ocean Institute Out of Sight, Out of Mind From 10 March

Out of Sight, Out of Mind reminds us what there is to admire, love and protect about the ocean. Travel the globe in this interactive exhibition of panoramic images captured by underwater photographer and explorer Christophe Bailhache with his one-of-akind SVII camera. QR codes transport you into the images, allowing you to explore unique underwater worlds. This temporary exhibition in the Tasman Light Gallery is brought to you by Australian charity Underwater Earth.

One Ocean – Our Future Until October

Marvel at the diversity of Australia’s marine life revealed by Schmidt Ocean Institute’s 2020 circumnavigation of Australia aboard their research vessel Falkor. Discover, manipulate and inspect 3D visualisations of five extraordinary deep-sea specimens, hear about the impacts of a changing planet and oceans, and learn how two centuries of analysing and examining the ocean have given us the knowledge to change things for the better. sea.museum/one-ocean

Image ANMM Wildlife Photographer of the Year 57 From 9 April

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

Shaped by the Sea From late May

Shaped by the Sea tells the story of Australia’s maritime history and our relationship with seas, rivers and waterways from the deep past. As an island nation, Australia has a unique relationship with the sea – now told through the lens of modern science and maritime archaeology, as well as through Indigenous knowledge. This permanent exhibition transforms the way the museum has interpreted the National Maritime Collection and heralds a new chapter in the life and vision of the museum. Hundreds of objects from the collection will be on display for the first time. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a commissioned work by the Mulka Art Project. This stunning contemporary video installation called Dhaŋaŋ Dhukarr (Many Pathways) brings together all the elements of the exhibition – land, water and sky – into an immersive, cyclic reflection on deep-time Australia.

Travelling Exhibitions Remarkable – stories of Australians and their boats Portland Maritime Discovery Centre, VIC 1 February–30 April Val Melville Cultural Centre, South Kempsey, NSW March–April Old Courthouse Museum, Batemans Bay, NSW 1 March–5 April Injune Library, QLD 7 March–10 April Bermagui Historical Society, NSW 18 April–May Moruya District Historical Society, NSW Early May–mid June

With over 1,000 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 across 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. James Cameron – Challenging the Deep Telus World of Science, Alberta, Canada Until 3 April

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 Voyage to the Deep – underwater adventures Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Maine, USA Until 1 May

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 venture through the world below the waves, including the octopus’s 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 Otago Museum, New Zealand Until 1 May

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 Brickwrecks – sunken ships in LEGO® bricks Western Australia Shipwrecks Museum, Albany WA Until 8 May

Featuring large-scale LEGO® models, real shipwreck objects, interactives and audiovisuals, 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. sea.museum/brickwrecks

Image of Batavia LEGO® model courtesy Rebecca Mansell/WA Museum

Dates listed for onsite and travelling exhibitions are subject to Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines, and may change at short notice. For updates, please check our website at sea.museum.