“As an organisation that sits directly on the beach, our relationship with the sea informs all that we do. In times when our duty of care towards our oceans has become paramount, our programme and our work with artists is committed to developing conversations around those responsibilities and practices. The artists on display here have embraced the challenge of working with this innovative new material, and the results are as exciting as they are urgent.” - Kathleen Soriano, Director at Hastings Contemporary
In the summer of 2025, Art For Your Oceans, the landmark contemporary art exhibition at the intersection of art, science and marine ecology, was on view at Hastings Contemporary. Located on the shoreline and with a programme rooted in ocean futures, the gallery was uniquely placed to bring the globally significant project to the South Coast of England.
Art For Your Oceans shines a light on the potential of seaweed as an invaluable tool in the fight against climate change, and as a new artistic medium in the hands of critically acclaimed artists. Hastings Contemporary hosted specially commissioned works by 11 of the leading international artists who participated in the project – including Antony Gormley, Mona Hatoum, Emma Talbot, Anya Gallaccio, Nick Goss and Laura Ford.
The exhibition not only showcased the creative power of artists in times of environmental crisis, but also celebrated seaweed’s remarkable potential: from absorbing carbon and purifying water, to serving as a sustainable material for packaging, food, and now for creating art.
All exhibited works were created using OCEAN INK®, the world’s first sustainable and fully biodegradable water-based ink, made from regeneratively farmed seaweed by OCEANIUM in Scotland. This marks the first time that an exhibition has been created using seaweed ink, prompting artists to create a diverse body of work that includes sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking and textiles.
Art For Your Oceans is part of the flagship initiative of Art For Your World , devised and curated by Artwise Curators for WWF-UK. The exhibition debuted at Sotheby’s, London in May 2025.