- 14 November 2025 – 31 August 2026
- Futurium, Berlin
- Opening Event: 14 November, 20:00–01:00
Early closure: The museum will close early during daytime hours on 14 November.
A laboratory of imagination for the future of the ocean
Futurium’s first special exhibition “Ocean Futures” treats the oceans not merely as a geographical reality, but as carriers of cultures, memories, and future possibilities. For billions of years, the seas have shaped life; they determine our climate, provide the air we breathe, and connect us to one another…
The exhibition opens a new future-oriented perspective on this shared blue heritage. Filipino artist Leeroy New’s large-scale installation “Balangay Spacecraft” combines mangrove roots, artificial islands, and a speculative ocean ecosystem, transforming the space into a fantastical underwater landscape. 450 recycled water canisters, natural materials, and transparent structures make visible both the fragility of the seas and our collective resilience.
At the heart of the exhibition are the stories of two fishing families—one from Germany, one from the Philippines. Despite living 10,000 kilometres apart, their hopes, anxieties, and relationships with the sea intersect in astonishing ways. These narratives invite visitors to reflect on the idea of “common ocean citizenship.”
At the same time, a counterpart programme is taking place at The Mind Museum in Manila. The Ocean Citizen Portal connecting Berlin and Manila enables simultaneous visitors to interact with each other live.
Opening Event: Dance of the Underwater Creatures
14 November 2025, 20:00–01:00
The exhibition will open with a special dance performance accompanied by Leeroy New’s fantastical sea creatures made from recycled materials.
Exhibition Themes
- Climate crisis and the future of the oceans
- Ecological awareness & technological transformation
- Intercultural dialogue
- The intersection of mythology, science, and speculative design
- Sustainable material use and transformation
UN Ocean Decade-related programme
“Ocean Futures” is part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). The aim is to create global awareness for protecting the oceans and preparing them for the future.
