Dive underwater and explore the mysteries, myths and life that lurk beneath the waves.
Undersea at Hastings Contemporary brings together paintings, prints, drawings and objects from across different cultures and artistic movements, revealing the sea as a place of wonder, turmoil, and transformation. It follows Seaside Modern (2021) and Seafaring (2022) to complete a trilogy of exhibitions curated by renowned art historian James Russell. Featuring over 75 artworks that span four centuries and a range of cultures,
One group of works will explore artists’ study of the marine environment and the creatures that inhabit it, with lobsters, crabs and fish appearing in different guises throughout the show. Greek painter Yiannis Maniatakos donned diving gear to paint haunting views of the seabed – underwater. Intricate representations of the sea and its inhabitants are offered by a group of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Meanwhile there is a rare chance to view a work created by marine organisms: Sea Sculpture (c. 1725) incorporates ceramicware lost at sea and colonised by corals.
Another group of works is inspired by mythology and imaginary aquatic realms, with an impressive display of international artworks depicting mermaids. This includes the celebrated Surrealist painting, A Siren in Full Moonlight by Paul Delvaux (1940) and the startlingly inventive Mermaids series (2023) by contemporary Swiss painter Klodin Erb. Different perspectives on the same subject are offered by Nigerian painter Kelechi Nwaneri in his depiction of the powerful African goddess and water spirit Mami Wata (2021) and in Thomas Lowinsky’s The Dawn of Venus (1922).
One of the oldest works is the beguiling A crocodile, a gigantic fish and an animal that eats flying fish (1750) by an unknown maker, the full meaning of which remains a mystery. Contemporary highlights include the mysterious Deep Dive (2022) by Tom Anholt, and Octopus’s Veil (2016) by Michael Armitage.
The show also explores the diverse experiences and rich lore of those who live by, work on, or depend upon the sea. Taiso Yoshitoshi’s A woman abalone diver wrestling with an octopus (c. 1870) is a dramatic almost cartoon-like image of a woman with a knife becoming enveloped in the tentacles of a giant octopus, while Christopher Wood’s (1901-1930) Ulysses and the Sirens (1929) is an action-packed re-telling of a Greek myth, albeit in a 20th century setting.
The show is part of a season of exhibitions about life above and below the waves. It appears alongside an immersive site-specific installation, The Sun Feeds the Wind, created in collaboration with artist Mary Hooper and the Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society, which documents and celebrates the cultural and industrial heritage of the Hastings fishing community.
Undersea: 29 March – 14 September 2025
Hastings Contemporary, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW
Tickets: Admission Tickets & Timeslots
Further Information: UNDERSEA - Hastings Contemporary