Singing whales, breaking ice floes, marine snow: you can now descend to the deep sea floor at the Artis Aquarium

The Artis Aquarium in Amsterdam has unveiled a new immersive art installation titled Deep seeing currents by Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. The project consists of a twelve-minute soundscape featuring fifty-five audio recordings collected from scientific expeditions and archives, simulating a descent of up to eleven kilometers into the deep ocean. Utilizing a specialized 4DSound system, the installation allows visitors to experience the sounds of tectonic shifts, calving glaciers, and whale songs in a darkened, atmospheric theater. Subtle LED light patterns depict marine snow, representing organic matter falling to the ocean floor. This installation is part of the aquarium's updated focus on the relationship between humans and water following a five-year renovation. Curated by Judith de Bruijn, the project aims to educate the public about the vital importance of the deep sea in regulating the global climate. Deep seeing currents officially opened to the public on October 5, alongside several other new artworks commissioned by Artis to encourage reflection on our place within the natural world.