Oodi’s summer exhibition Oceanaia: Bloom of Synthesis is on at Kuutio during library’s opening hours 18.6-17.8.
Oceanaia: Bloom of Synthesis is an interactive art game set on a futuristic water-based planet in the year 7000. Designed by Finnish game developer Olli Uikkanen and French visual artist Christelle Mas, the game explores four imagined marine ecosystems using real scientific data.
You can experience the art game at Kuutio space on the second floor. The exhibition will be open during library opening hours.
The audience can influence the ecosystems through the game: the installation functions like a digital aquarium, where viewers interact with the artwork. The piece combines photography, game design, Baltic Sea research data, and 3D microscopic imaging.
At the crossroads of science and art
The work merges art and science. “All the background images in the game are based on microscope photographs of actual insects and snakes,” Christelle explains. The visuals are based on Mas’s photographic series. “In the art game, existing artworks are digitized and integrated into the game environment.” For the photo collages, 3D microscopic images of insects and snakes were captured at the Oulu University’s Bio Center using various types of microscopes.
Oceanaia is designed for a wide audience and invites visitors to play in Kuutio space. “The aim is to engage people, inviting them to explore environmental questions through play and interactive storytelling”, Mas says. “I chose Oodi because it is one of the most innovative and futuristic buildings in Helsinki — its organic, almost science-fiction-like architecture aligns perfectly with the aesthetic and themes of my artworks. “
Collaboration creates new viewpoints
The collaboration that started on 2024 has been an interesting journey for the creators. “My favorite thing about Oceanaia has been the collaborative process,” says Christelle “It pushed me into new territory, especially learning Unity and exploring game development. I enjoy interdisciplinary work because it brings diverse perspectives together and creates a shared language between disciplines to build something truly unique.”
Olli Uikkanen adds: “I’ve especially enjoyed designing the behavior of the creatures and bringing Christelle’s work from the real world into the virtual space. I really appreciate how well Oodi’s Kuutio space supports the aquarium-like atmosphere of the piece.”
Future of possibilites
The game uses real scientific research and new ideas, turning them into an interactive art experience. It helps people understand complex topics and imagine more open and inclusive futures. “Rather than focusing on dystopia, Oceanaia opens space for possibility. It offers viewers and players the chance to step into a future shaped by diversity. Not only biological, but also philosophical and technological”, Christelle Mas summarizes.