This summer, Nantes’ fine arts school is showcasing two key areas of its activity: research and the work of its students and teachers.
Since 2024, the research project L’Océan comme méthode (“The Ocean as Method”), led by the École des beaux-arts Nantes Saint-Nazaire, has sought to renew our ways of perceiving, imagining, and engaging with the ocean. Working from Saint-Nazaire, Nantes, Lorient, Lisbon, and Salvador in Brazil, students examine the many past and present activities linked to the sea: trade, migration, industry, energy production, military and scientific infrastructures, and tourism. Their reflections encourage new ways of inhabiting the Earth and contribute to a decolonization of how we think about the ocean.
The exhibition presents student work in the Open School Gallery alongside a solo installation by artist and lecturer Euridice Zaituna Kala. The latter includes a screening of her film Roda dos Encantados, created in Salvador da Bahia, exploring the history of quilombos – communities founded by escaped enslaved Africans and Indigenous peoples as places of refuge and resistance.
The Océan comme méthode research project was selected for the French Ministry of Culture’s RADAR program. Euridice Zaituna Kala’s film received support from the Institut Français’ “Saison France–Brazil”.
Featuring: Euridice Zaituna Kala, Leïla Aït-Mekourta, Lucie Bourgoing, Giovanna Buiatti, Marion-Moana David, Nelly Giauffret, Rose Guillaud, Jie Hu, Joel Janse-Van-Vuuren, Clara Kaminka, Antreas Kelpis, Haoxi Lai, Lilou Le Gars, Coraline Marion, Naomy Maurin, Jade Regazzi, Eli Ringuet, Jing Zhang (16 étudiantes et étudiants et 1 diplômée de l’école).
Curators: Emmanuelle Chérel Et Euridice Zaituna Kala
Exhibition design: Marion-Moana David
See also
2026 diploma show
Rue Centrale inside the art school,
Tue–Sat 10 AM–12:30 PM/–26 PM (Jul 1–25).
2 All. Frida Kahlo, 44200 Nantes
How to get there?
Parking(s) nearby: Parking Les Machines, Parking Les Nefs, Parking CHU 1, Parking Gloriette 2
Public transport: Gare de l'État, Prairie au Duc, République, Médiathèque
Self-service bicycles: Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Palais de justice (n°44), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Prairie au duc (n°45), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service École d'architecture (n°77), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Machine de l'île (n°43), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service République (n°46), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Médiathèque (n°34)
Closed today.
From july 4th 2026 to september 6th 2026
from 10h00 to 19h00 on monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, sunday
Free entrance, no booking required, subject to availability