Sarah Bretz, ContributorExplora Journeys has launched an exclusive exhibition of Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s marine photography onboard its newest ship Explora II.
The exhibition, titled Marine Encounters, is located in the ship’s Galleria d’Arte. It offers a visual journey into the wonders of marine life through the lens of Prince Hussain. The collection of 28 limited-edition photographs will be on display for an initial period of six months. They’ve been gifted to the MSC Foundation by Prince Hussain, reflecting a collaboration which has a focus on environmental conservation and education.
On September 14th, Explora Journeys President Anna Nash, MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco, and Prince Hussain Aga Khan came together to officially open the exhibition. The gifted collection is available for purchase, with proceeds going to support the MSC Foundation.
“I’m very grateful and blessed to be showing my work in this beautiful space on board Explora II. My mission is to show people what’s out there – the diversity, beauty, fascinating behaviour, intelligence – to try to make them fall in love with fauna, flora and habitats,” said Prince Hussain Aga Khan, Photographer and Founder of Focused on Nature. “At the very least encourage them to care but also highlight the terrible decline, the threats, and some of the solutions and changes we can make in our own behaviors.”
The unveiling of the exhibition was part of the naming ceremony festivities for Explora II. The vessel is the second in MSC Group’s luxury line Explora Journeys’ fleet, following Explora I. Explora II set sail on her maiden voyage on September 16th from Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) to Spain, Sicily, and Malta.
A walk through Marine Encounters takes cruisers on a journey from coral reefs to the deep ocean, focusing on the importance of coral protection. It ends at the MSC Foundation Area, a space dedicated to MSC Foundation’s awareness-raising and education activities on board.
Purchasing one of Prince Hussain’s limited-edition prints from the Marine Encounters exhibition will directly fund a scholarship for one semester of studies for a student enrolled in marine science at the University of The Bahamas — something that MSC Foundation has already been doing.
“We are incredibly honored to partner with an exceptional artist and ocean ambassador, Prince Hussain Aga Khan, to showcase his exceptional photography on Explora II,” said Daniella Picco, Executive Director of the MSC Foundation. “This exhibition gives cruise guests a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of our oceans through art while also being inspired by Prince Hussain’s unwavering dedication to marine conservation and his powerful advocacy for their protection.”
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