The Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts and the Winthrop-King Institute for Contemporary French and Francophone Studies’ joint exhibition “HOMO SARGASSUM” will host a concluding symposium from March 4-6.
The exhibition, which commenced on Sept. 9, showcases the creations of 25 Caribbean artists delving into the proliferation of sargassum seaweed –– drifting seaweed that congregates in significant masses and can inflict ecological damage when present in oversaturated amounts –– in Florida and the Caribbean through an artistic and scientific perspective.
The “HOMO SARGASSUM” display is complimentary for the public, with the symposium accessible at no charge upon registration. A diverse spectrum of artistic mediums is presented, including paintings, photographs, videos, and other mixed media works, alongside innovative pieces featuring multisensory components, such as a dress crafted from sargassum and a tasting event.
“One particularly captivating piece is ‘Poetics of Relation and Entanglement,’ an innovative map of the Americas created by Grenadian artist Billy Gérard Frank in 2024,” stated Kaylee Spencer, MoFA director and professor in the Department of Art Education. “This immersive work, composed with pigments derived from sargassum, features a video component displaying coastal imagery along with a showcase of ceramic vessels and dried sargassum.”
The exhibition was envisioned by and is presented in collaboration with the Tout-Monde Art Foundation (TMAF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating and connecting contemporary Caribbean artists to the global stage. “HOMO SARGASSUM” is co-curated by Vanessa Selk, executive and artistic director at TMAF, alongside Michael Carrasco, associate dean for research in FSU’s College of Fine Arts.
“This is more than merely an exhibition — it’s an odyssey,” Selk remarked. “Similar to sargassum drifting through the Atlantic Ocean, we face natural and anthropogenic challenges such as epidemics, pollution, and hurricanes. This narrative of the worldwide ecological crisis, mirrored in silent floating algae, serves as a reminder to alter our current paradigms and recognize our unity with the environment.”
In addition to artist talks, panel discussions, and academic presentations that complement the displays, this symposium features immersive and participatory experiences, encouraging attendees to interact with the exhibition in novel ways.
“Uniting distinct voices — artists, performers, researchers, and community members — ensures that dialogues ignited by the exhibition persist beyond the museum’s confines. These discussions, performances, and interactive activities present a chance for participants to engage with the topics of ecological transformation and resilience, leaving them with an enduring impression of how art can tackle pressing environmental issues.”
— Kaylee Spencer, MoFA director
“In-gallery experiences and dance performances will animate the exhibit’s artwork while workshops and outdoor activities offer hands-on opportunities for participants to connect with the environmental and material realities that inspired these creations,” Spencer noted. “As a unique sensory journey, attendees will even have the opportunity to sample a mocktail using sargassum as an ingredient, showcasing the transformative capabilities of this often-neglected substance.”
Through a combination of academic dialogue and experiential involvement, the “HOMO SARGASSUM” closing symposium will enrich discussions surrounding the exhibition and ensure that attendees depart with a profound connection to the concepts the exhibit and concluding symposium examine, such as the relationship between ecological and societal matters.
“Uniting distinct voices — artists, performers, researchers, and community members — ensures that dialogues ignited by the exhibition persist beyond the museum’s confines,” Spencer remarked. “These discussions, performances, and interactive activities present a chance for participants to engage with the topics of ecological transformation and resilience, leaving them with an enduring impression of how art can tackle pressing environmental issues.”
The final opportunity to view the exhibit is March 8, and visitors on that day can also partake in a special program designed for K-12 students. “HOMO SARGASSUM –– A Puppetry and Art Adventure,” examines the exhibition’s themes through a puppet show and enables participants to create a sea creature puppet from recyclable materials.
“HOMO SARGASSUM” is partly funded by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.
To register for the closing symposium and view the event program, visit winthropking.fsu.edu/event/homo-sargassum-intl-symposium. To plan a visit and discover more about the museum’s forthcoming exhibits and events, visit MoFA.fsu.edu.
The article Florida State University MoFA’s “HOMO SARGASSUM” exhibit to close with international symposium was originally published on Florida State University News.