The 2025 Sea Art Festival, titled 'Undercurrents: Waves Walking on the Water,' is co-directed by Keumhwa Kim and Bernard Vienat, who were selected through an international open call. The biennial returns to Dadaepo Beach in Busan, South Korea, focusing on outdoor installations and sculptures that engage with the natural landscape and local communities. Kim, founder of Keum Art Projects, and Vienat, founder of art-werk and leader of the (re)connecting.earth biennial, emphasize collaboration with scientists such as paleontologists and bioacoustic researchers to highlight invisible ecological and social structures.
This edition matters because it continues the festival's evolution from a locally driven event to an internationally curated biennial, offering a free, sensory-driven alternative to indoor exhibitions like the Busan Biennale. By prioritizing environmental dialogue, community participation, and interdisciplinary partnerships, the festival underscores the growing role of art in addressing ecological awareness and social visibility, setting a model for outdoor art events worldwide.