by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Maurizio Spoto – Direttore di WWF Area Marina Protetta di Miramare, Martina Vittoria Ragozzino, Johanna Montesano – artists
The sea may look blue, but beneath the surface lies a far more complex world. That idea drives MareDireFare, a festival in Trieste that blends art and science to reveal the ocean as a dynamic spectrum of colors shaped by light, adaptation and environmental change.
Now in its sixth edition, the festival—organized by Italy’s National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS) and the WWF Marine Protected Area of Miramare—runs from April 9 to April 20.
Its centerpiece is the exhibition “Beyond Blue: The Colors of the Sea” at Sala Veruda, featuring 24 illustrations by six artists. The works highlight the ocean’s diversity, from green algae to the black depths, while using red as a warning of threats such as pollution, microplastics and rising temperatures.
The festival also includes public talks, films and workshops. A key event on April 17 will screen a National Geographic documentary narrated by David Attenborough, focusing on the impact of destructive fishing and the need to protect marine ecosystems.
With events for schools, families and the wider public, MareDireFare aims to raise awareness about the ocean’s fragile future—showing that the sea is not just blue, but a complex and changing world.
