Innocean Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) are set to launch the 'Fantastical Sharks & Rays' exhibition off the back of a competition asking children to create art inspired by these species.

The project, which aims to challenge the reputation of sharks and rays as fearsome predators, will spotlight lesser-known endangered Australian species through the lens of children's imaginations and the work of iconic Australian artists.

The exhibition is the culmination of a competition that invited children to create art in any form - except AI. The top entries will serve as inspiration for artworks by 10 of Australia’s most celebrated artists, including Ken Done, Jenny Turpin, Janet Laurence, Reko Rennie, Jonathan Zawada, Rosie Deacon, Sarah & Sebastian, Dion Horstmans and Blak Douglas. The exhibition will run from August 2024 to January 2025 at the Australia Museum.

“This is a unique project and one that I am immensely looking forward to participating in. If it helps to protect some of the world's endangered species, that would be a great achievement for us all," Ken Done, one of the participating artists, said.

Dr Leonardo Guida, Shark Scientist for the AMCS, highlighted the importance of the fusion of art and science in engaging the community in conservation efforts.

"We are excited to see the imaginative interpretations of these remarkable shark and ray species by the next generation of artists. The fusion of art and science has never been more important as a means to engage and empower the broader community to save our threatened species and ensure healthy oceans for future generations," he said.

Innocean's Art Director, Pamela Parrelli, and Copywriter, Charlotte Berry, emphasised the transformative power of creativity in tackling ocean conservation.

“Ocean conservation can be a daunting issue - until you start working with the creativity and hope of children. Seeing simple descriptions inspire artworks out of this world is a reminder of the power of pure creativity - far beyond anything a 25 character prompt could deliver in a few seconds," the pair stated. "For every artwork, imagine the number of thoughts and conversations between children and parents over these sharks and rays - perhaps changing both perspectives for life.”

The competition is now open, with submissions closing on 29 February, 2024.