Photography exhibition ‘Jellyfish unveiled’ opens at the University Museum of Bergen

In collaboration with the Manet team at the Department of Natural History and the Michael Sars Centre, at the University of Bergen, the exhibition displays sixteen jellyfish species and their kin, captured by photographers Joan J. Soto-Angel, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Natural History, and engineers Alexandre Jan and Anne Elin Aasjord at the Michael Sars Centre. 

The exhibit features a diversity of species with very different lifestyles, found all over the world.

Foto/ill.:

Marion Lebouvier

Divided into four thematic sections, the photographs celebrate the colorful elegance of jellyfish while highlighting their complex life cycles, behavior and role in the marine ecosystem. “The rationale behind this exhibition goes beyond sharing how incredibly beautiful these creatures can be”, Soto-Angel said. “An ocean without jellyfish would not be a healthy ocean. We wanted to bring out some of the positive sides of jellyfish, and contribute to a better perception of these underestimated animals.”

“An ocean without jellyfish would not be a healthy ocean. We wanted to bring out some of the positive sides of jellyfish, and contribute to a better perception of these underestimated animals.”
- Joan J. Soto-Angel

Often feared and seen as a nuisance along the world’s coastlines, the surprising diversity and biological features of jellyfish have fed the curiosity of researchers for generations. The ‘Jellyfish unveiled’ exhibit invites the public to look beyond their preconceived ideas on these fascinating animals. “The photo exhibition is somewhere between tangible and intangible, between documentation and knowledge production about real species, living animals that look like art, and an art experience”, explained Eli Kristine Økland Hausken, head of Science Communication at the University Museum of Bergen. “And without all of this different expertise from researchers to curators and technicians and more, we could not have made this new experience that the public will be able to take part in at the University Museum”.

Alexandre Jan, Luis Martell, Joan J. Soto-Angel, Aino Hosia and Anne Eline Aasjord (from left to right) contributed to the exhibit with photographs, text and their expertise in jellyfish biology.

Foto/ill.:

Marion Lebouvier

The collaboration reflects a long history of marine invertebrate research in Bergen, that began with the work of famous zoologist Michael Sars in the 1800’s and continues to this day at the University of Bergen. “We are excited and honored to be part of this exhibit, especially as our Centre has a long and strong tradition of jellyfish research”, Michael Sars Centre group leader Pawel Burkhardt said. “I see the same passion as Michael Sars when I look at the stunning photographs by Joan, Alex and Anne.”