Angels, sea urchins, octopuses and other fantastic marine creatures are invited to the Nice Arts Biennale

Published on May 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

A uranoscope fish (otherwise known as the Mediterranean — A scorpionfish (also known as a Mediterranean "ox" or "white scorpionfish"), photographed in Nice, in the Bay of Angels, at a depth of 20 meters, and exhibited at the Charles Nègre Museum of Photography. LAURENT BALLESTA

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A blue wave is engulfing the museums and art centers of the Mediterranean city. Ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference, from June 9 to 13, visual artists are awakening sensibilities and mobilizing imaginations.

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A gigantic octopus emerges from the lawn of the Promenade du Paillon, in the heart of Nice. Arriving from New York, the bronze cephalopod baffles passersby and charms children (and dogs) who frolic between its tentacles. The strange octopus by visual artist Laure Prouvost, one of six art installations deployed in the city for the Biennale des Arts, whimsically encourages humans to pay more attention to the underwater world. "Landed here to Sea you , " proclaims the beast.

After the "Flowers" in 2022, the event will dive into deep waters in 2025. The theme, "The Sea Around Us," is not only dictated by the geographical location of the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department. Nice will host the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) from June 9 to 13, co-organized by France and Costa Rica. This international summit aims to implement an action plan to preserve an e…

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