The Little Fish of the Monaco Maritime Academy

Presented for the first time in the Principality, this exhibition invites visitors to explore an underwater world vibrant with light, colour and poetry. Through a series of works in which the material interacts with light, the artist offers a sensory immersion into the depths of the sea, combining aesthetic contemplation with reflection on the preservation of the oceans.

Marco Quarantini: light as material

Originally from Bologna, Marco Quarantini has, over the years, developed an instantly recognisable artistic language, at the crossroads of technical innovation and poetic sensibility.

His approach is based on the integration of handcrafted glass with acrylic paint on canvas, a process he has gradually perfected to recreate the vibration of water and its infinite variations of light. Depending on the viewing angle, the works transform, revealing interplays of reflections, transparencies and depths that give the impression of perpetual motion.

For Quarantini, light does not merely accompany the artwork: it is one of its essential materials. The light beams he installs himself form an integral part of the composition and constantly alter the perception of the paintings. Each viewing thus becomes a unique experience, with each work seeming to reinvent itself as the viewer moves.

Populated by fish, sea creatures and dreamlike aquatic landscapes, his world evokes the fragile richness of the seabed. Whereas the Impressionists sought to capture the reflections on the surface, Marco Quarantini chooses to explore what lies beneath the water, revealing a world suspended between reality, memory and the imagination.

This fascination with the marine world is accompanied by a deep ecological awareness. Behind the beauty of the works lies a message raising awareness of the need to preserve the oceans and marine biodiversity. Each painting thus becomes an invitation to take a fresh look at a natural heritage that is as fascinating as it is vulnerable.

The Little Fish of the Monaco Academy of the Sea – The Exhibition

Through “The Little Fish of the Monaco Academy of the Sea”, art becomes a powerful vehicle for emotion and communication. The exhibition offers an immersive experience where aesthetics naturally pave the way for reflection on our relationship with the marine world.

Through his world populated by fish, aquatic creatures and plays of light, Marco Quarantini invites visitors to discover the richness and fragility of the seabed. This approach resonates particularly well with the values upheld by the Académie de la Mer de Monaco, which is committed to promoting maritime culture and celebrating marine heritage.

Through this collaboration, art and maritime culture come together to offer the public an experience that is at once aesthetic, immersive and meaningful.

The Monaco Academy of the Sea, a leading institution in the maritime world

Founded to promote maritime culture in all its dimensions – scientific, legal, environmental and cultural – the Monaco Maritime Academy is now an internationally recognised leading institution.

By bringing together experts, researchers, decision-makers and stakeholders from the maritime world, it helps to foster a sustainable and informed vision of the relationship between humanity and the ocean.

A shared commitment to preserving the marine world

The exhibition strikes a particularly special chord at Le Méridien Beach Plaza. As the only Hotel in the Principality to boast a private beach bordering the Larvotto Marine Protected Area, the establishment maintains a special bond with one of Monaco’s most remarkable marine ecosystems.

This proximity gives the Hotel a special responsibility for its preservation. Alongside the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature (AMPN), Le Méridien Beach Plaza carries out concrete actions throughout the year in support of the marine environment, combining protection, education and local engagement.

The artistic programme now serves as a natural extension of this approach. By hosting two consecutive exhibitions dedicated to the marine world during the summer of 2026, in collaboration with the Académie de la Mer de Monaco and the AMPN, Le Méridien Beach Plaza reaffirms its commitment to fostering dialogue between art, culture and the environment.

The art of travel according to Le Méridien

Across the globe, Le Méridien transforms the hospitality industry into a true arena for cultural exploration. Convinced that art enriches every moment of the journey, the brand delivers a dynamic programme designed to serve as a common thread linking destinations, their local talent and curious travellers.

Each property thus becomes a creative stage: pop-up exhibitions, site-specific installations, artistic collaborations. In Monaco, this vision takes shape within the Le Méridien Hub, a lobby reimagined as a space for expression and dialogue, hosting several temporary exhibitions each year dedicated to emerging or established artists.

Hosting Marco Quarantini’s first exhibition in Monaco is fully in line with this approach, illustrating Le Méridien Beach Plaza’s commitment to fostering a dialogue between hospitality, contemporary creation and openness to the world.

Unlock Art™

This approach extends beyond the Hotel’s walls through the signature Unlock Art™ programme, a flagship initiative of the brand.

True to its philosophy, Le Méridien offers its guests privileged access to partner cultural institutions. In Monaco, simply by presenting their key card, visitors enjoy free access to exhibitions at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM).

An elegant way of reminding us that at Le Méridien, keys open much more than just doors: they open up whole worlds.

Practical information

Exhibition: The Little Fish of the Monaco Academy of the Sea – Marco Quarantini
Dates: 15 June to 15 July 2026
Opening: Monday 15 June 2026 at 11:00
Venue: Le Méridien Hub – Le Méridien Beach Plaza – 22 Avenue Princesse Grace – 98000 Monaco