An exhibition on the sea in Ancona with photos by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Brian Skerry

For the first time in Italy, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Brian Skerry ’s photographic exhibition entitled Planet Sea, staged in the halls of the Mole Vanvitelliana in Ancona from Feb. 25 to June 25, 2023, recounts the beauty of our blue planet and provokes reflection on the urgency of preserving it and ways of experiencing it. The exhibition-promoted by the City of Ancona with the collaboration of the Goodplanet Foundation and Contemplation, and organized by Rjma Cultural Projects-offers the public an opportunity to rediscover the strong and primordial relationship between man and the sea. The views of the two photographers, one from the sky and the other from the depths of the sea, chase each other in 70 extraordinary auteur photographs of our Sea Planet.

“There is no more suitable place than the Mole of Ancona to host Pianeta Mare, an exhibition of art and care that weaves the threads of the infinite bond between human beings and the most important element on the planet: water. I use the term care because the first effect of this extraordinary exhibition is to create a new affection between those who visit it and the sea, a feeling, a love. And it is love that is the prerequisite for the cure,” these are the words of Ancona City Councilor for Culture Paolo Marasca.

When astronauts were able to see the Earth from space, they realized that ours is a Blue planet, first of all because the waters of the oceans occupy two-thirds of the surface. The Sea produces 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe and absorbs one-third of our CO2 emissions. The oceans are the main source of protein for about a billion people, and activities directly or indirectly related to fisheries employ about 200 million people worldwide. It was in the Sea that the first forms of life appeared, a billion years after the oceans were formed. And until 250 million years ago, life on the planet was dominated by marine creatures, from bacteria to large cetaceans. The human body is 60 percent water and contains the same percentage of salt as theOcean.Man and the Sea are intimately linked.

In Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Brian Skerry’s shots, therefore, we discover not only the beauty of the Oceans but also the importance and necessity of protecting the Sea as a heritage of humanity. In the photos on display, all in color and in large formats, it will be possible to observe up close and in an unprecedented way, the richness and variety of marine and coastal environments, animal and plant species. But in addition to presenting some of the mostÌ€ beautiful photos dedicated to the world of the Sea, the exhibition highlights the impact of man, which is at the same time the cause and the solution of all the problems that have now been determined. Just think of plastics, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation. The exhibition showcases the beauty of the oceans, their diversityÌ€, their usefulnessÌ€, the dangers that threaten them, and the solutions that can be brought to bear.

Much of the marine world is still unknown to us, yet the human footprint can be felt everywhere. At the Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro 1992, the preservation of our Oceans was unanimously regarded as a priority. Thirty years after that Declaration there is still much to be done, and as Yann Arthus-Bertrand himself says, “Both Brian Skerry and I saw the beauty of the world and, to protect it, we decided to witness it. Foŕ although it has changed and many threats weigh on its future, ours remains a magnificent Planet. And to speak of its beauty is to arouse, perhaps, the momentum that will enableÌ€ to preserve our blue planet. Our PLANET SEA.”

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is known for the spectacular aerial photographs of the photography project, The Earth Seen from the Sky. The resulting book and exhibition were an extraordinary worldwide success. He is also the author of the documentary series Vu du ciel, the feature film Home, Planet Ocean (with Michel Pitiot) and Human, a film that speaks to humanity. A French Navy painter, he is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and President of the GoodPlanet Foundation.

Brian Skerry is an American photographer who specializes in underwater biodiversity. He has dived more than 10,000 hours in all oceans and produced more than 20 features for National Geographic magazine.

Also part of the exhibition is PLANET OCEAN, a documentary film made by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, a heartfelt plea to humanity to respect the world we live in. Using Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s breathtaking aerial images and those of top underwater operators, the film takes us on an unprecedented journey. From plankton to whales, from fishermen in Papua New Guinea to container ships shuttling between China and the United States, from coastal metropolises to the beaches most frequented by vacationers, the film reminds us that we are all inhabitants of the same planet.

All the photos on display are accompanied by descriptive texts in Italian and English, and the exhibition itinerary is enhanced by striking installations. Planet Sea offers a wide program of educational initiatives aimed especially at young people, carried out by Macchine Celibi: guided tours and workshops for different school groups, linked to the subjects of study, but also guided tours for groups and families, with scheduled departures.

Creation is a technical partner for the communication part, and the Fagola bookstore in Ancona takes care of the bookshop at the exhibition.

For all information, you can visit the official website of the Mole Vanvitelliana.

Pictured is a photo by Brian Skerry.

An exhibition on the sea in Ancona with photos by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Brian Skerry

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