Exhibition « Du glacier à l'oasis »

L'Art'cherche - Du glacier à l'oasis - Affiche - 2025

As part of the ninth edition of "L'Art'Cherche", the Oceanological Observatory is pleased to present its annual exhibition “Du glacier à l'Oasis” on the Albert Sagols esplanade, in the open air in front of the Observatory.

From voyages of discovery to modern scientific expeditions, this exhibition takes visitors on a journey through a distant and fascinating world, the Southern Ocean and its mythical howling 50th.

Around the Kerguelen Islands, visitors will discover the multitude of emblematic species of birds and marine mammals that inhabit this oasis, as well as the rapid melting of the island's glaciers. The exhibition illustrates why scientists from the MARGO* project are looking for a possible link between the two.

The ships and tools needed for this expedition are presented, as are the men and women in action, whose passion, concentration and collaboration are all characteristic values of scientific research.

Part of the exhibition is also devoted to the imaginary world of the Southern Ocean, as seen through the eyes of pupils from the Jules Ferry nursery school in Collioure and the eyes of the artist ‘Minuit’, who created a watercolour using seawater collected on site.

The exhibition highlights the scientific research being carried out in the Kerguelen Islands and reveals the fragility of this unique environment in the face of ongoing changes.

* The MARGO scientific project is studying the impact of the melting Kerguelen glaciers on the surrounding marine ecosystem. This ecosystem is a veritable oasis in the Southern Ocean, home to emblematic species of birds (albatross, penguins, etc.) and marine mammals (elephant seals, sea lions, whales, etc.). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Nature Reserve.