We Are the Ocean: A festival of ideas

The French Institute in India, in partnership with the Alliance Française network, is presenting We Are the Ocean, an ocean-focused edition of the Festival of Ideas, at Alliance Française de Delhi until May 25. The festival is open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM.

This edition highlights marine ecosystems through a programme of exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, panel discussions, and virtual reality experiences. It is timed to coincide with the lead-up to the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and aligns with the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030).

The main exhibition, spread across ten thematic sections, includes photographs, sound installations, films, and interactive works. Exhibits include Tidal Echoes by Nicolas Michel, Floating Cities by Elsa Mroziewicz and Cécile Palusinski, The Mermaid Tears by Samuel Bollendorf, and The Plankton Ballet by Christian and Noé Sardet. Outdoor installations by Studio Kilki address themes such as plastic pollution and public engagement with ocean health.

The festival also features a series of panel discussions curated by Dakshin Foundation, taking place in Delhi, Goa, Chennai, and Pondicherry. Topics include marine biodiversity, coastal planning, the blue economy, plastic waste, and fisheries policy.

Also Read: “Whispers of the Heart”: A solo exhibition by Kaasvi Jain

Workshops and community events include a poetry writing session, an upcycling workshop with SilaiWali, and an educational game on ocean-related challenges. Film screenings scheduled during the festival include Bigger Than Us, The Green Tide, Becoming Cousteau, Against the Tide, and The Turtle Walker.

When: Until May 25; 11 AM – 7 PM

Where: Alliance Française de Delhi, 72 Lodi Estate, New Delhi