Beneath the ocean’s surface, concrete human figures protect marine habitats. These sculptures are the work of artist and environmentalist Jason deCaires Taylor, who creates vast underwater museums to divert tourists away from fragile sites. Approximately half of tourism takes place in coastal regions, and this overwhelming influx is causing serious damage to reef systems. But Taylor’s art draws in marine life to establish new homes and allow habitats to recover. “I hope to sculpt a new future for the wellbeing of the world's oceans,” he says.
Coral reefs are capable of suffering from anxiety, particularly when interfered with by humans. “Tourism affects marine habitats by placing stress on natural reefs,” Taylor says. In response to trauma, corals expel the vibrant algae living inside them and become completely white. Bleached corals die off and are unable to support the biodiversity of the reef, where a wide range of plant and animal species live. When reefs cease to exist, so do their bustling inhabitants. What's left are barren sandbanks, but these spaces mark the perfect spot for Taylor's sculptures.
His submerged collections provide a hauntingly unique way of exploring the world's oceans while creating an ecosystem for marine life to flourish. The Museo Subacuático de Arte in Cancún, Mexico is one of Taylor’s earliest works, featuring the life-sized casts of people who came together to safeguard the sea. Built to sustain species, the sculptures’ rough exteriors are made up of marine grade concrete which allows coral larvae to attach themselves, while the crevices are prime real estate for small fish and crustaceans. Taylor’s artworks have been placed around the world including Norway, Indonesia and Spain. While some pieces focus on environmental exploitation, most feature the carved forms and faces of people from local communities, highlighting their relationship with their coastal environments.
The artefacts of these living collections are not the sculptures, but rather its residents. Taylor has designed over a thousand artworks, and over time each of his creations are brought to life by the creatures that make it their home. “Our survival depends on the health of marine ecosystems,” he says.
Footage and images by Jason deCaires Taylor were used in the creation of this film.
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