As part of the 2026 Interdisciplinary Festival of Science and Arts at Aix Marseille University, themed « Human/Animal. A Shared Adventure? », an immersive exhibition titled « From Medusa to Jellyfish: From Mythological Figure to Ecological Symbol » was presented on September 17 and 18 at the MUCEM Forum. The event was developed by Louise Merquiol (artist-post-doctoral researcher, MIO), Anne-Sophie Tribot (ecologist, TELEMMe), Alicia Pasquet-Forster (doctoral student in social and environmental psychology), and Thomas Changeux (hydrobiologist, MIO).
Long associated with the mythological figure of Medusa, jellyfish evoke both fascination and repulsion. Their gelatinous appearance, stinging power, and strange beauty have fueled narratives where they symbolize danger, otherness, or elusive natural forces. Through these representations, they reveal our relationship with marine worlds and how we perceive, understand, and imagine life.
Organized chronologically, the exhibition juxtaposed naturalist illustrations, scientific studies, and artistic creations to demonstrate how perceptions of these organisms have transformed over time.
The installation also addressed current environmental issues. Often presented as « symptoms » of global change, jellyfish are linked to climate warming, overfishing, and the degradation of marine ecosystems. However, having existed in the oceans for over 650 million years, they too are affected by these upheavals, prompting a more nuanced view.
A participatory dimension completed the experience: visitors were invited to create their own jellyfish using recycled materials, exploring through artistic practice the emotions, imaginations, and representations these organisms inspire.
By combining environmental history, arts, and marine ecology, this proposal encouraged a rethinking of the place of jellyfish in our collective imagination and our relationship with the oceans.
