The National Park West Coast of Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc, which  receives approximately 750,000 tourists annually, will feature more than  400 concrete sculpture figurines comprising the world’s largest underwater museum, right in the waters in front of Cancun and the island of Isla Mujeres.  

The project has been put into place to give the natural reefs the opportunity to flourish at a cost of more than $350,000 usd.   The Marine National Park has stepped up to the challenge of diverting tourists away from natural habitats along the natural coral reefs without losing their visitors,  and the US $36 million they bring directly  into the area each year. 

Approximately 400 sculptures will be created by internationally renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor and will then be sunk within this National Park on the barren areas of seabed at various depths. The first placing of sculptures will begin on November 14^th 2009.  Each piece of art will be life-sized, with a base of four square meters. There will be several theme based installations, such as an army of indigenous Mayan people entitled “The Silent Evolution” and other sculptures such as the “Dream Collector” who catalogues messages in bottles set adrift from various corners of the world.

One of the first messages in a bottle attached to the above mentioned sculpture reads: “May our hearts, never become as hard as our heads”, by Roberto Diaz, President of the Cancun Underwater Museum. 

“This is a unique opportunity to explore the boundaries of art and combine it with reef conservation” said Jason de Caires Taylor, British underwater sculptor of the unique sculptures. The main piece will encompass between 300 to 400 lifelike figures based on actual living people.  Once the main first phase of the project is completed other artists will be encouraged to submit their own sculptures and contribute to this unique museum. 

The National Park’s director, Jaime Gonzalez Cano, calculates that by April 2010 there will be approximately 250 sculptures in the underwater museum.

 ”The underwater museum will draw many visitors, allowing us to give a rest to the natural reefs. It’s like a restoration process”, Gonzalez explained.

Upon the opening of the museum, divers will be required to gain experience in artificial habitats and snorkelers will continue to wear life jackets for buoyancy to prevent damaging the natural corals and the new artificial habitats.

Creator of the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Jason de Caires Taylor has gained international recognition for his unique work. His sculptures highlight ecological processes whilst exploring the intricate relationships between modern art and the environment. By using sculptures to create artificial reefs, the artist’s interventions promote hope and recovery, and underline our need to understand and protect the natural world.

The sculptures are sited in clear shallow waters to afford easy access by divers, snorkellers and those in glass-bottomed boats. Viewers are invited to discover the beauty of our underwater planet and to appreciate the processes of reef evolution.

Check www.underwatersculpture.com to know more

Creator of the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Jason de Caires Taylor has gained international recognition for his unique work. His sculptures highlight ecological processes whilst exploring the intricate relationships between modern art and the environment. By using sculptures to create artificial reefs, the artist’s interventions promote hope and recovery, and underline our need to understand and protect the natural world.

The sculptures are sited in clear shallow waters to afford easy access by divers, snorkellers and those in glass-bottomed boats. Viewers are invited to discover the beauty of our underwater planet and to appreciate the processes of reef evolution.

Check www.underwatersculpture.com to know more

Creator of the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Jason de Caires Taylor has gained international recognition for his unique work. His sculptures highlight ecological processes whilst exploring the intricate relationships between modern art and the environment. By using sculptures to create artificial reefs, the artist’s interventions promote hope and recovery, and underline our need to understand and protect the natural world.

The sculptures are sited in clear shallow waters to afford easy access by divers, snorkellers and those in glass-bottomed boats. Viewers are invited to discover the beauty of our underwater planet and to appreciate the processes of reef evolution.

www.underwatersculpture.com

I found this artist (thanks to my google gadget, “artist a day”). Of all his works, the under water pieces I thought were really I like how unreachable the space is by humans.

Creating environmental art inside the world’s largest gallery, Jason de Caires Taylor’s underwater sculptures literally come to life. A passionate scuba diver and artist, his oceanic installations are otherworldly, enigmatic, and astoundingly beautiful. He creates solemn and haunting human shapes, arresting in their casual acts and calm conformity. Like outcasts of Atlantis, living all of their days at the bottom of the world.

To me, the most magical part of all is that over time these works aren’t just displayed in the ocean, they literally become the ocean. They wear away, erode into liquid, and plant life spreads itself across them. Absorbed by the very medium that creates their interest, they’re both a celebration and a sacrifice to the sea.

If you’re into this, check out the world-renowned outdoor installation of Antony Gormley and Nicola Basic’s amazing Sea Organ.

Via The Post Family

Meio inglês, meio guiano, Jason de Caires Taylor cria esculturas para o fundo do mar. É dele a criação do primeiro parque de esculturas submarino, localizado nas águas de Granada. Sua obra é composta de figuras humanas e naturezas mortas em tamanho natural. Essas peças, no entanto, por estarem sob o oceano, aparentam ser 25% maiores, graças à ótica aquática. Vê-las sob a água do mar é completamente diferente de vê-las em um museu. No mar, a luz incide de forma diferente; o movimento da água e as partículas nela contidas modificam a percepção dos objetos; e a natureza age sobre o material de forma imprevisível, integrando-o mais e mais ao ambiente.

Dar de cara com essas esculturas deve ser uma experiência fascinante e única. Fantasio que, no futuro, quando ninguém mais souber dessas obras, elas serão reencontradas com espanto semelhante ao provocado pelos guerreiros de Xian. E serão expostas em museus com a mesma pompa das estátuas gregas de autoria desconhecida.

[Fonte: Jason de Caires Taylor / Via Made in Mundo]

What you see here is a sculptural work by Jason de Caires Taylor, an artist who does underwater sculpture to explor the relationship between his art and enviroment. Due to the surroundings where he places his sculptures, they tend to change in time and often end up becoming part of marine habitat.

Check out more of Jason’s work at http://www.underwatersculpture.com/index.asp. Thanks to Jennifer for the link!