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Virtual Reality - The Starry Sand Beach
In *The Starry Sand Beach* by Nina Barbier and Hsin-Chien Huang, set to original music by Armand Amar, discover the story of foraminifera—the microscopic organisms used to measure ocean acidification.
Dates and times
October 1 (opening): open from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. October 2–11: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (last time slot at 8:30 p.m.).
Address
Quai de Marseille, Bassin de l'Eure
Accessibility
Virtual reality experiences are available only to children over the age of 10 and adults.
Additional Information
This experience is available only to holders of the Explorer Friend Pass, which can be obtained via the booking link.
"The Star-Shaped Sand Beach " is a virtual reality science story that takes you on a journey to meet star-shaped foraminifera—tiny organisms of crucial ecological importance that are now threatened by global warming and ocean acidification.
On Taketomi Island, in southern Japan, legend has it that a star from the Southern Cross met the North Star. Their thousands of children fell from the sky into the Sea of Okinawa, devoured by a sea serpent that left only their skeletons behind, before the current washed them ashore on Taketomi, forever sprinkling its sand with tiny stars. Behind the myth lies a genuine scientific quest. Foraminifera come in an infinite variety of shapes: some star-shaped, others shaped like amphorae, ears, or strange shells, and their calcium carbonate shells make it possible to date the movements of the ocean floor back as far as 500 million years, while also revealing the rate of ocean acidification.
Accompanied by Armand Amar’s original score, this immersive experience weaves together poetry and science to reveal the infinitely small and its role in maintaining the balance of our planet.
As a documentary writer-director, Nina Barbier explores major social issues, history, religion, and the call to travel. Passionate about Asia—and Japan in particular—she has directed numerous films for the program “Buddhist Wisdom” and has filmed in India, Nepal, France, and Japan.
Huang Hsin-Chien creates interactive and immersive digital works that blend art, design, and engineering. His entire approach centers on harnessing cutting-edge technologies to advance creativity, from literature to live performance. He is the creator of critically acclaimed virtual reality experiences such as *Bodyless* (2020) and *Samsara Ep.1* (2021). He has also collaborated with major artists, including Laurie Anderson on *La Camera Insabbiata* (2017, Grand Award at the Venice Film Festival) and *To the Moon* (2018), as well as Jean-Michel Jarre on *The Eye and I* (2023).
Get access to this experience with the Explorer Friend Pass
Want to experience this in virtual reality? During the stop in Le Havre, the Pass Ami Explorateur gives you access to it, while also allowing you to support the Art Explora Festival, a traveling festival that’s free and open to everyone.
When you become an Explorer Friend, you'll enjoy exclusive access to virtual reality experiences Carbon Black and The Starry Sand Beach, priority access to the museum ship, and other perks, all while helping to support a free-to-the-public program.
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