The Changing Ocean
At Bergen Aquarium, Aurora Vortex led the curation, concept development, design, scriptwriting, and creative direction of The Changing Ocean — a permanent immersive installation that takes visitors on a journey beneath the ocean’s surface through 360-degree visuals and sound-led storytelling.
Developed in collaboration with Bergen Aquarium, researchers, and technical specialists, the installation translates marine research into a spatial and emotional experience. Moving from coastal waters to the deep sea nearly 3,000 meters below sea level, the work invites visitors to encounter the ocean as a living and vulnerable environment shaped by both natural forces and human activity.
A central theme of the installation is sound: how marine life depends on acoustic perception, and how human-made noise can alter life below the surface. By combining wonder, disturbance, and hope, The Changing Ocean is designed to deepen ocean literacy and strengthen the connection between people and the sea.
The Changing Ocean – Case Study
Project Name: The Changing Ocean
Commissioner and Location: Bergen Aquarium, Norway
Opening Date: May 3rd, 2024
Project Overview
The Changing Ocean is a groundbreaking 360-degree immersive installation designed to highlight the human impact on marine environments and inspire sustainable action. The installation leverages cutting-edge technology, visual storytelling, and scientific collaboration to create a multisensory underwater experience.
Concept and Purpose
The Changing Ocean was created as a science-based immersive experience that makes marine research more accessible, memorable, and emotionally resonant for broad audiences. Rather than presenting the ocean as an abstract subject, the installation allows visitors to move through it physically and emotionally.:
Raise Awareness about human impact on the ocean.
Showcase Solutions for marine restoration.
Inspire Action among visitors, policymakers, and businesses.
The Experience
Immersive 360-Degree Installation
The installation takes visitors from coastal and near-surface waters down into the deep sea and back again, combining marine life, underwater environments, and scenes shaped by human impact. Through immersive projection and sound, the work reveals both the beauty of the ocean and the pressures it faces.
Development and Collaboration
The project was developed through close collaboration between scientific, creative, and technical disciplines. Aurora Vortex shaped the overall concept together with staff from Bergen Aquarium. While narrative, and visitor journey was created by Aurora Vortex in collaboration with researchers and specialist partners.
Scientists and Researchers: A full reference list is here.
Technical Experts: Rebel Unit (CGI), Avistas (tech.), Yngve Sætre (audio).
Funding Partners: Agenda Vestland, GC Rieber Funds, Bergen Municipality.
Impact and Reception
Engagement: More than 250,000 visitors have been immersed in the experience since its launch.
Viral Reach: A short reel showcasing The Changing Ocean went viral on Instagram, garnering nearly 7 million views. (LINK)
Education and Debate: Sparked discussions on marine sustainability and human responsibility.
Conclusion
The Changing Ocean demonstrates how immersive technology, science, and art can unite to drive awareness and action. By showing both the challenges and solutions facing our oceans, this installation empowers visitors to become stewards of the sea.
Beyond Bergen
The project has also reached audiences beyond Bergen through its VR popup edition, presented at the BBNJ Symposium at Museu do Amanhã, Rio de Janeiro, 10–12 March 2026, followed by an invited presentation at UERJ. These presentations demonstrated how the work can be adapted to new formats and shared in international scientific and educational contexts.
“We must act now – together, we can preserve
the oceans for future generations.”
Work with Us
Are you interested in creating an installation that combines science, technology, and art to engage audiences in new ways?
Contact us at Aurora Vortex Studio. Let’s explore the unknown together.