Last year, the exhibition “Earth from Above” held in Bangkok under the framework of “La Fête” 2008 brought together nearly 500 000 visitors! The unbelievable success encouraged us to pursue the experiment of holding open-air, public and free exhibitions. Being sensitive to critical questions on climate and the protection of the environment, you enjoyed the aerial portrait of our planet by Yann Arthus Bertrand. It only seemed logical to invite you this year to discover an underwater portrait, in the company of Laurent Ballesta, French marine biologist and photographer.

The exhibition is composed of 88 photographs by Laurent Ballesta, accompanied by Pierre Descamp’s captions on marine biodiversity and the conservation of the marine environment.


“Planet Ocean” lets plunge into the heart of our planet!

Scientists say that the water in the oceans has extraterrestrial sources! It is supposed to have originated from comets containing snow and ice which bombarded our planet around 4 billion years ago… Is that why the marine environment appears so strange to us? This is quite likely as the transition into an underwater journey transports us into another world. There is the abode of swimming plants, animal-like plants or even fish that change colour! This fabulous bestiary, almost inaccessible and yet so close to us, conceals many mysteries. The oceans, that cover 75% of our planet, are as little-known as Mars or Saturn, and the vast majority of marine species, from the tiniest bacteria to giant squid are yet to be discovered. But what is most disturbing may be the realisation that oceans contain our past and condition our future.
At the turn of the millennium, scientists remind us every day of our dependence on natural balances. There are countless examples! As insignificant as the plankton algae may seem, they are entirely indispensable to us since they produce 80% of the atmospheric oxygen that we breathe. As for the bounty of the sea, fish, crustaceans or molluscs, these are the chief source of proteins for 1 billion human beings. Today, this enchanted world is in peril! The inhabitants of the oceans - and mainly the most charismatic species - are under threat everywhere. Global warming, pollution, over fishing, the list of injuries man inflicts upon the oceans is lengthy indeed. The sustainable exploitation of marine resources, the arrest of erosion to biodiversity and the extinction of species are the principal challenges that Man must confront, not in centuries to come, but in the next twenty years! Let us hope that the wonder generated by “Planet Ocean” awakens the respect and awareness indispensable for us to get there!

Marine biologist, professional diver and photographer, Laurent Ballesta has published articles for the best-known French and foreign magazines (National Geographic, Paris-Match, Figaro Magazine, Ça m’intéresse,VSD, Daily Mail, Stern, View...).

He is also a scientific advisor for the television series Ushuaia Nature (popular in France). In 2006, following the success of his book “Planète Mers” released by publishing house Michel Lafon (“ Planet Ocean ” published by National Geographic), the Senate of the French Republic paid him tribute and displayed his photos on the celebrated mazes of the Luxemburg Garden in Paris. In 2007, he broke the world record for the photo taken at the deepest spot in the world, with a shot at -192 meters!

Pierre Descamp is the co-author of “Planet Ocean”, and a marine biologist as well, having specialised in the conservation of coastal ecosystems.