This paper aims to foster a relational understanding of the ocean, shaped by both its physical and cultural histories, as well as the interactions between humans and non-human entities. By focusing on certain material aspects of the ocean such as its fluidity, its capacity to diffract and to form tidal forces, seawater becomes more tangible and accessible, making it easier to comprehend, appreciate, and care for—rather than continuing to contribute to the damage caused by human activities.

Drawing on the increasing prominence of ocean-themed exhibitions and artistic practices, this exploration situates curatorial practice in relation with the oceanic. The ocean becomes not merely as an object of representation, but a generative method—offering curatorial possibilities rooted in listening, care, and the recognition of submerged histories and nonhuman ecologies.

Keywords

Ocean ecologies, Hydrofeminism, oceanic curating, non-human agency, diffraction, critical ocean studies

Author: Cristina Ramos González