In this episode of IFAI Talks, we sail alongside Marieke Huysmans Berthou, the heart behind Pianocean, a life art project that merges music, sailing, and ocean awareness. For the past 10 years, Marieke has been traveling the seas with her piano on a sailboat, turning each port into a floating stage and every concert into a poetic encounter with local communities and the ocean itself.
We talk about what it means to live and create at sea, music as an emotional bridge to sustainability, and planetary healing through art. We also explore how we can all be part of a Blue Tribe that connects, protects, and inspires change.
NL: Welcome to IFAI Talks, our conversations on art, innovation, and social change. In this special edition, part of the Social Art Award 2025 accompanying program, we are thrilled to welcome an inspiring guest: Marieke Huysmans, founder of Pianocean.
Marieke’s incredible initiative merges music, sailing, and sustainability, creating a unique and poetic way to connect people with the ocean. Through her voyages, she brings music to coastal communities while raising awareness about the importance of protecting our waters.
At IFAI, the Institute for Art and Innovation, we believe in the power of art to ignite change. We’re so glad to join forces with Marieke to highlight the vital role of creatives in ocean conservation. Tune in as we explore her journey, the intersection of art and activism, and how we can all contribute to the future where our oceans—and we—thrive. Stay with us for an inspiring conversation.
Welcome, Marieke! Could you please share a bit about your background and what led you to this unique journey of combining music, sailing, and sustainability?
MH: Hi, thanks a million for having me. Pianocean was born from a dream I had when I was around 16, imagining a life that combined traveling, music, and the sea. Over the years, that dream became a reality. I embraced a new lifestyle that uses music and the sea to connect with people.
I began as a professional musician, but I also trained at a sailing school to become the captain of my own boat. After my music studies and sailing classes, I found my boat, Lady Flow. I cut a hole in the deck to fit a piano and created a special elevator system to raise the piano onto the deck for performances—and lower it into the cabin while sailing.
I’ve been sailing and performing from port to port for the past 10 years. This year marks a decade of touring with Pianocean.
NL: That’s amazing! You said you’ve traveled from port to port. Where did you start, and how many oceans have you crossed?
MH: I started the project in the Mediterranean, where I did all the boat modifications. My first tour was in 2015. Then I sailed north to Brittany, where I’m from, on the west coast of France. Drawn to Celtic areas, I continued on to Ireland, Scotland, Norway—crossing the Arctic Circle to the Lofoten Islands—then south to the Azores and more recently the Canary Islands. And now, I’m just about to cross the Atlantic!
NL: Incredible. What does a typical day on the boat look like? Are you alone, or do you travel with others?
MH: Pianocean is really a lifestyle and a life project. In the beginning, I sailed with my best friend Lily, a photographer and visual artist. She documented the project while learning to sail. Later, I met my husband, Sebastian, who is also a sailor. Now I travel with him, our six-year-old son Aaron, and our cat. That’s our main crew—family and friends.
But there are always new encounters. I collaborate with local musicians and artists wherever I go. I have a small recording studio on board, so we can capture music spontaneously. Many people contribute to the project at different stages.
NL: That sounds magical. Can you describe the atmosphere of playing music on your boat?
MH: I chose sailing because it reflects the human rhythm I was looking for. Touring by bus or plane felt too fast—you don’t even realize where you are. Sailing forces you to slow down and connect deeply with places and people.
It’s also the most uncomfortable way of traveling—physically tough and unpredictable. But arriving by sea creates a different kind of connection with people. They know you made an effort to reach them.
Performing on deck under the open sky is a unique experience. The concerts can happen day or night, in strong winds or during peaceful sunsets. The settings vary—from 20 people on a remote island to thousands at a festival. Ports attract a rich social mix: locals, workers, tourists, fishermen. Music brings them all together.
NL: Beautiful. How has your journey shaped your understanding of ocean health?
MH: At first, I was focused on learning to sail—understanding tides, currents, and weather. But after spending months at sea, I connected deeply with marine ecosystems and witnessed their vulnerabilities.
I’ve seen both destructive overfishing and sustainable small-scale practices. I’ve visited islands trying to live in harmony with the sea—and tourist hubs where mass tourism harms the coast. Traveling by sea shows you the ocean’s fragility in a very personal way.
NL: Would you say that Pianocean advocates for ocean health?
MH: I think so, but in a poetic and emotional way. I don’t give scientific lectures
“I use music to help people reconnect with nature”.
One of my songs, Mad As We Are, portrays the ocean as a human being—sometimes joyful, sometimes sad or angry. It invites people to see the ocean not as a postcard, but as part of themselves. I use feelings and poetry to awaken that connection.
NL: That’s powerful. Can you recall a moment when your work had a deep impact on someone?
MH: Yes, many times. People often come to me crying after a concert—because they felt seen, moved, or hopeful. I think we’re starving for inspiration in a world that moves too fast and overwhelms us. My concerts offer a moment to pause, breathe, and remember the beauty of the world.
NL: This connects beautifully to the concept we’re exploring this year: the Blue Tribe—a global community advocating for ocean protection. Do you feel part of that?
MH: I haven’t heard the term before, but I love it. I absolutely see myself as part of a Blue Tribe.
“A tribe implies collective action. People from all backgrounds and disciplines coming together with something in common—in our case, the ocean. The sea has always connected us. It’s not a barrier but a bridge for culture, knowledge, and community”.
We may not all realize it yet, but we’re already part of a Blue Tribe.
NL: Exactly. And how do you see the role of art evolving in today’s world, especially with the ecological and planetary crises we face?
MH: One of my favorite writers is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In a letter to a friend, he said that people are starving for inspiration, for poetry—and that we can’t live only with fridges, cell phones, and chess games.
That’s what art brings: a reminder that life has meaning beyond consumption. I hope to restore some of that meaning through my work.
NL: What’s your dream for the future? Do you see yourself still sailing in the next decade?
MH: Absolutely. I’m living my dream—and I want to continue. Sailing around the world will take at least another 10 years, and I want to go as far as I can.
“Looking further ahead, if we manage to restore our relationships with nature, with the oceans, and with each other, the world will look like a dream. That’s why I love visiting islands—they’re microcosms of the world. Some of them already reflect the future we hope for. We should take inspiration from those places”.
NL: This conversation has truly reminded us how deeply interconnected we are with the oceans—not just through science, but through music, storytelling, and our shared experience of the world. Marieke, your work with Pianocean is a beautiful example of how art can inspire and reconnect us to the waters that sustain life.
MH: Thanks a million. I’m so happy to be part of the Blue Tribe.
NL: Yes—we’re already a little Blue Tribe here! And to our listeners: if you’re inspired by Marieke’s story and want to support ocean conservation through art, check out the Social Art Award 2025. The open call is live, and we’re looking for artists to join the movement. Submit your work, share this conversation, and tag us on social media.
Thank you again, Marieke. It’s been an absolute pleasure. And to everyone listening: stay inspired, stay creative, and let’s work together for more sustainable and artful futures.
Until next time—this was IFAI Talks. Talk soon.
More information about Pianocean: