The Blue Penny Museum, under the MCB Group, whose aim is to promote art and culture on the island, has announced a free exhibition, Artizan Lamer (sea artisans), free to access by the public from November 28, 2025-March 2, 2026. The latter offers an immersive journey at the heart of the maritime heritage and meets those who for generations, have worked and lived with the ocean: artisan fishermen.
Tribute to know-how in disappearing mode
Between hand-carved canoes, nets braided with patience, and the tools of yesteryear, this exhibition seeks to honor the gestures, traditions, and faces that constitute the richness of our coasts. But it is also a cry from the heart: in the face of climate change and the loss of our marine biodiversity, how to preserve this memory and keep listening to the seas, as the earlier generation did?
A commitment to sustainability
Being a small island, every wave and every action counts. This initiative, the MCB recalls, is directly linked to the reason of being, Success Beyond Numbers, to remember our collective responsibility to protect the oceans and help preserve the heritage linked to them. This duty to the memory and tribute to all the Artisan Lamer (sea artisans) who dedicated themselves to the lagoons and the Indian Ocean is crucial.
Bookmark the Dates
From December till February, the museum will witness a host of activities:
December 11: Workshop for the manufacture of Lockers
December 12-13: Bis La Mer (https://www.reefconservation.mu/education_bislamer)
December 19/February 28: Workshop on manufacture of pirogues
January 28: Conference with the Our Heritage Foundation-OHF (https://ourheritage.foundation/our-team) and the Ministry of Fisheries
February 7: Demonstration of technique for traditional fishing
Several artists, such as Vaco Baissac, Charoux, Nuckcheddy, Chazal, Menardeau, Hitie, and Jundoosing would share their vision of the sea and those witnessing it in their daily routine. Their work constitutes a vibrant tribute to the deep link between humans and the Ocean.
In the quest for Artisanal Fishing
The exhibition puts to the fore the discovery of artisanal fishing, a universe where gestures, techniques, and traditions were transmitted for many centuries. It seeks to enhance the value of fishermen’s know-how, constituting an ancestral practice while posing as a true form of artistic expression and as an essential element of cultural heritage, where this route traces the manner in which this activity, deeply embedded in the life of coastal communities, has inspired many artists over time.
From the poetic representation of fishing scenes to ethnographic studies, the exhibition shows how art has been nurtured by this close relationship between man, the sea, and its resources.
The sea is a living heritage that helps shape our identity and economy. With Artizan Lamer (Sea artisan), the Blue Penny Museum pays tribute to those who live of the sea and boasts of a precious know-how that deserves to be transmitted. This exhibition reflects our dedication to preserving our collective memory and supporting our artists since a society without artists signifies its end. It also recalls the importance of preserving our lagoon and biodiversity, commented Group Head of Sustainability, Reputation & Engagement Vanessa Doger de Speville.
