Mysteries of the Sea - Special Exhibition at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum

Two children are crouched facing a black wall and looking upwards. The wall is bathed in a cool glow from a projector, and dark sounds simmer in the room. A call from a whale and bubbles rising upwards. Suddenly, a pink octopus arm shoots up the wall, and the boys jump along. They jump and dance to reach as high as possible while the octopus arm sways in the virtual water.

We are at the Fisheries and Maritime Museum, which during the winter break opened the doors to a brand new exhibition: Mysteries of the Sea, where you can get close to some of the wonders, myths, and superstitious legends hidden beneath the gentle lapping of the waves. For example, you can learn more about the eel's journey underwater, the story of the mermaid, and the octopus's reputation as the sea's villain in the form of the terrifying Kraken.

A balance between the visual and storytelling

The exhibition is located in the area that recently housed the offshore exhibition. Inside the exhibition's darkness, illuminated by an info screen, stands 8-year-old Lucas with his father, Michael, who is reading about the eel's journey – both in the water and through history. Lucas listens intently.

"I love the sea. And the exhibition is really fun and beautiful. My favorite animal is the fish," says Lucas, while his eyes dart around taking in the many impressions in the room.

Father Michael has brought the whole family to the exhibition, and they like what they have experienced.

"I think there is a really good balance between the visual and at the same time telling the story about the things lying on the sea floor. It's an interesting approach with the mysterious and dark; I can feel that it captures both me as an adult, but also the children. So it really works well," says Michael.

Renewal and familiarity at the same time

Outside the exhibition entrance stands a sign pointing up towards the museum's restaurant, Café MS Smag. The menu offers Mystery Stew, which among other things consists of white wine-steamed haddock.

A little away, a mother sits with her two children who have brought their own packed lunch. It is Esther Kristensen and the children Augusta and Albert. Esther was born and raised in Esbjerg and has always had a connection to the museum. But after today's visit, it has changed for the better.

"There really is a new energy here, I think. There is undoubtedly a renewal, but at the same time also a familiarity. I have been coming here for many years, and I think there has been a development where there is also something for the slightly older children," says Esther.

A museum for a nature- and culture-interested audience

In May 2021, Merete Jankowski took office as the new director of the Fisheries and Maritime Museum with the mission to focus more on a nature- and culture-interested audience. And the exhibition Mysteries of the Sea is a contribution to that vision.

"When I started at the museum, people had gotten used to there being no real new developments on the exhibition front. They had exhibitions that lasted 20 years. We need to ensure that we have something exciting and relevant for our guests," says Merete Jankowski, who can understand some visitors' experience that the exhibition can seem a bit dark and scary.

"It is important for us that the museum has a playground, but that it is not a playground. The Fisheries and Maritime Museum has for many years targeted very young children and had play activities for them, but where there was not really a focus on learning something about, for example, the sea," says Merete Jankowski.

The sea is more unknown than outer space

The motivation for creating the exhibition Mysteries of the Sea came from the museum's desire to inspire guests to take an interest in the sea and the life that exists at its bottom.

"As Denmark's museum for the sea, we want to share our enthusiasm and wonder for everything the sea contains. The sea is more unknown and unexplored than outer space. We simply know more about what is happening out there than down here. That really motivated us," says Merete Jankowski.