Culture, Poole | Posted on December 9th, 2025 | return to news

Poole Museum is making waves

An immersive digital installation depicting an underwater world will be in the Changing Exhibitions space until Sunday 26 January.

An interactive exhibition at the newly re-opened Poole Museum is making a splash with visitors.

An immersive digital installation transports audiences into a mesmerising underwater world, where futuristic sea creatures respond dynamically to every movement.

Created by internationally renowned Marpi Studio, the exhibition transforms the museum’s newly created Changing Exhibitions space, The Fine Gallery, into an interactive ocean environment.

Using body-tracking sensors, visitors see their avatars appear on screen and can interact with vibrant, imagined marine life in a hypnotic blend of light, sound, and motion. The result is a bold re-imagining of maritime heritage through a contemporary lens.

This playful, immersive experience blurs the boundaries between art, technology, and nature, sparking curiosity and conversation across generations.

‘Sound of the Sea’ is designed to be inclusive and engaging for all ages and abilities, offering both calming and energising experiences.

Jaine Fitzpatrick, interim director of Poole Museum, said: “‘Sound of the Sea’ is unlike anything we’ve shown in Poole Museum before. It’s immersive, interactive, and deeply aligned with Poole’s natural underwater heritage.

“This exhibition, and the wider redevelopment, marks a new chapter for Poole Museum. We’re evolving into a vibrant cultural centre where art, history and technology converge, and I invite everyone to explore the transformed museum and experience the interactive magic waiting in our Changing Exhibitions space on the fourth floor.”

The Fine Gallery, previously an office space, has been transformed through the museum’s ambitious redevelopment into a state-of-the-art white box gallery with advanced environmental controls, thanks to support from The Fine Family Foundation. This enables Poole Museum to host everything from historic masterpieces to cutting-edge digital installations.

Sibyl Fine King, director of The Fine Family Foundation, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be involved with Poole Museum and in particular to support The Fine Gallery. This exhibition, ‘Sound of the Sea’, couldn’t be better. What an apt and inviting opening exhibition celebrating Poole’s essence which is so linked to our relationship with the sea.

“By highlighting our connection to creatures in the sea both real and imagined through the theme and technology, I hope this sets the course for many fabulous and interesting exhibitions at our newly renovated Poole Museum.”

‘Sound of the Sea’ is the culmination of an international and virtual collaboration: curated in Shanghai; created in San Francisco, Paris, and Oslo; and produced out of New York and Los Angeles. Its UK debut at Poole Museum follows a successful installation in Norway in collaboration with Lumen Prize, an international award that celebrates artists working at the intersection of creativity and innovation.

Poole Museum has recently undergone a major transformation supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, who own and operate the museum; Arts Council England; Heritage England; and many other partners.

The ‘Sound of the Sea’ runs until Sunday 26 January 2026.