ArtScience Museum has just opened its newest exhibition, Into The Ocean Journey Beneath. The show is a collaboration with OceanX, a leading ocean exploration organisation whose footage has previously featured in BBC's Blue Planet II and the OceanXplorers series produced with National Geographic.
If you have ever wondered what it feels like to travel from the ocean's sunlit surface all the way down to its darkest depths, this exhibition brings that journey to life. Rather than just showing photos or videos, it uses sound, visuals, scent, and interactive technology to make the experience feel real.
This exhibition was developed specifically with OceanX, a nonprofit organisation focused on unlocking the ocean's sustainable potential through scientific research and education programmes. The process took roughly two years before the exhibition officially opened to the public on 6 June 2026.
What makes it special is that much of the footage on display was captured using OceanX's advanced submersibles, capable of filming at every depth of the ocean. That means you will be seeing marine environments that have largely never been shown to the public before.
The exhibition is designed to feel like an actual expedition. You are positioned as an active participant, moving gradually through the ocean's shifting environments, from its brightest layers down to its darkest, before eventually resurfacing with a new understanding.
The journey begins aboard OceanX's research vessel, the OceanXplorer, where you get a sense of the crew preparing for an ocean exploration mission. From there, you step into a simulated submersible and begin descending through the ocean's different layers.
The first zone you encounter is the Photic Zone, the sunlit upper layer of the ocean. Here, you will see vivid footage of coral reefs in the Red Sea, along with a striking fact that coral reefs support around 25 percent of all ocean species despite covering only a tiny fraction of the sea.
As you go deeper, you pass through the Twilight Zone and Aphotic Zone, where sunlight no longer reaches. In these zones, you will encounter deep-sea creatures that live in permanent darkness, something few people ever get to witness in person.
One thing that sets this exhibition apart from other ocean-themed shows is how it blends science, art, technology, and conservation into a single seamless experience. Instead of relying heavily on text panels, it uses sound, visuals, scent, and interactive technology throughout.
The exhibition features installations from internationally renowned artists including Marshmallow Laser Feast, Marco Barotti, Jana Winderen, Robertina Šebjanič, Lachlan Turczan, Ong Kian Peng, and bit.studio. One of the most distinctive pieces is Invisible Ocean by Sissel Tolaas, an olfactory work that translates marine environments into scent, drawing on samples collected from the coasts of Costa Rica.
Beyond the art, the exhibition also showcases regional scientific research, including a long-term coral reef study by the National University of Singapore. There is also a section called People of OceanX, which highlights the inspiring stories behind the people driving deep-sea exploration forward.
The journey closes in a zone called Resurface, where the focus shifts to seagrass restoration efforts and the people behind OceanX's work. It is a reminder that everything you witness throughout the exhibition is ultimately tied to keeping the ocean liveable.
You will also get to take part in interactive activities connected to real ocean conservation efforts. So this exhibition is not just about admiring the ocean's beauty, it is also an invitation to care about its future.
Into The Ocean Journey Beneath runs from 6 June to 1 November 2026 at Basement 2 Gallery, ArtScience Museum. It is open daily from Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 7pm, with last entry at 6pm, while Friday and Saturday hours extend to 9pm, with last entry at 8.15pm.
As for ticket prices, Singapore residents can get adult tickets from SGD 19.50 and concession tickets from SGD 16.50. For tourists, adult tickets start from SGD 22 and concession tickets from SGD 18.
If you are planning a trip to Singapore anytime soon, this exhibition deserves a spot on your itinerary. An experience this immersive and this deep is not one you will want to miss.
