This paper discusses the exhibition Undercurrents: Art and Ocean in Melanesia, on display at the National Library and Archives of Vanuatu, as part of the 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival. Bringing together a selection of creative outputs from three community-based research projects in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, the exhibition examines the ways that art can express indigenous values relating to ocean governance and marine management.

At present, climate change, over-fishing, pollution and mining are among numerous stressors that threaten the health of the ocean. While there is growing global awareness of the harm being caused, high-level debates and responses frequently give precedence to economic, political and legal considerations. The views of local communities most dependant on the sea are often marginalised or excluded.

The safeguarding and promotion of traditional knowledge is vital to ensure environmental and cultural resilience in relation to the ocean-climate nexus. Jointly presented by artists, cultural practitioners and researchers, this paper explores the use of diverse artforms to communicate time-honoured relationships with the ocean to broad audiences, including policy makers. Wearable art by the Association of Solomon Islanders in Creative Fashion, an illustrated children’s book by the Erromango Cultural Association (Vanuatu) and co-produced murals by Pax Jakupa (Papua New Guinea), Lloyd Newton (Solomon Islands) and Alvaro Sumaki Kuautonga (Vanuatu) are presented to highlight the need for locally self-determined priorities to inform global strategies of ocean conservation.