The Silent Evolution: Sculpting an Underwater Habitat

One new idea for every day in 2011. We're talking big, small, local, international, in action and on the drawing board. Here's today's -- what's yours? Six months ago, British sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor dropped more than 400 of his works into the ocean.His underwater installation, The Silent Evolution,...
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One new idea for every day in 2011. We’re talking big, small, local, international, in action and on the drawing board. Here’s today’s — what’s yours?

Six months ago, British sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor dropped more than 400 of his works into the ocean.

His underwater installation, The Silent Evolution, which opened to the public in November, is hosted by the National Marine Park of Cancun and is now the largest underwater artificial art attraction in the world (though we’re not sure how much competition there really is in that category).

Taylor describes his installation as “art with a purpose”; he’s interested in the relationships his sculptures will have in their new environment, and is looking to test whether his work can serve as an artificial reef. 

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Each of his statues was constructed with a special cement that encourages plant life and hopefully the growth of the underwater ecosystem.

“The coral applies the paint,” he writes in his artist statement. “The fish supply the atmosphere. The water provides the mood. People ask me when it’s going to be finished. This is just the beginning.”


See more of Taylor’s work on the National Marine Park of Cancun website and see the most recent photos of his sculptures on My Modern Net.

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