World's First Undersea Sculpture Park

By Staff

Monday, December 1, 2008, 10:50

Imagine diving down deep clear water to explore underwater sculpture park that sing the saga of the lost world. Is it hard to believe? Believe it, for the next few minutes you are going to explore this strange sculpture park by Jason de Caires Taylor. Some may find it eerie and some fantastic, but none can neglect them and pass away, for their tide of attraction is stronger to pull you back to the warmth of the sea underneath.

Who is Jason Taylor?

32 year old, Jason Taylor, the creator of this unusual park is a fully qualified dive instructor with over 14 years of diving experience from all over the countries worldwide. In May 2006 he set up the world's first underwater sculpture park, at Moliniere Bay in Grenada. His work gained him international recognition instantly, but behind the mirror of fame and recognition there also lies his extreme struggle to gift such a unique work to to the world. He had to sell his house to complete his project.

The underwater sculpture gallery is a project aiming to create a unique space which highlights environmental processes and explores the complex relationships between art and its environment. The project is a platform to promote the re-generation of marine life. It uses sculpture as a means of conveying hope and environmental awareness. It even helps us understand the need to protect the natural world. Jason Taylor was inspired by the works of Richard Long, Christo and Claus Oldenberg, who focused on the connection between the object and the environment.

All about undersea sculpture park

Currently there are 65 sculptures in the park covering the area of 75 square meters. All the sculptures weigh around 20 tons. Jason started sculpting images from February 2006 and ended the whole project on June 2007. The sculptures, sited in clear shallow waters help the viewers to have an easy access to divers, snorkellers and those in glass-bottomed boats.

Most of the sculpture are made of cement that has been formulated to have a low acidic composition, which poses no threat to the environment. All these forms add a hard structure which allows coral, algae's and marine life to colonies and becomes the basis for a new coral reef.

Some basic facts of the sea that add beauty to these sculptures are,

Objects appear 25% larger underwater, and as a consequence they also appear closer.

Colours of the sculpture alter as light is absorbed and reflected at different rates, with the depth of the water affecting this further.

The light source in water is from the surface, this produces kaleidoscopic effects governed by water movement, currents and turbulence.

About Artworks Read to know about his famous two artworks

Grace Reef : This installation consists of 16 individual figures, cast from a Grenadian woman called Grace. Front and back sculptures of Grace are placed in an area of sand and debris to attract marine life and to encourage the formation of coral. Thus, over time, the sculptures will mirror the on-going evolution of the island and its people. Sometimes due to the direction and strengths of currents the entire sections of the work is covered, or hidden and even lost, however at other times figures emerge and are fully visible.

Sienna : Sienna, a steel sculpture is based on a character from the short story "A Different Ocean" by Grenadian Author Jacob Ross. In the story, Sienna is a young athletic girl who had a blessed gift for free diving. She was taken advantage of by hunters for sunken treasure and her story ends in tragedy and betrayal. The metal structure of the sculpture allows water currents to flow through the body of the sculpture creating an ideal habitat for filter feeding organisms. Therefore the sculpture not only portrays a folklore but also helps marine life too.

Future projects

Work is currently in progress for a new series of sculptures to be placed on land and underwater, around the La Castella and Capo Colonna coastline (part of the Area Marina Protetta Capo Rizzuto).