A Look at Cancun's Amazing Underwater Coral-Friendly Sculpture Park Hispanically Speaking News
go to original August 10, 2012

In 2006, artist Jason deCaires Taylor founded and created the world’s first underwater sculpture park in the West Indies. Situated off the coast of Grenada in the West Indies it is now listed as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic.

His latest creation is MUSA (Museo Subaquatico de Arte), a monumental museum with a collection of over 450 public sculptural works, submerged off the coast of Cancun, Mexico; described by Forbes as one of the world’s most unique travel destinations.

Both these ambitious, permanent public works have a practical, functional aspect, facilitating positive interactions between people and fragile underwater habitats while at the same relieving pressure on natural resources.

The sculptures are more than just a stunning and unique attraction, they serve an environmental preservation purpose as well.

Taylor’s beautiful cement figures provide a new habitat for coral and various other marine life. Also, by creating these must-see works of art, snorkelers and divers are diverted from fragile coral reefs.

The artist is currently based in Cancun, Mexico, where he is the founder and Artistic Director of the Museo Subaquatico de Arte (MUSA).

Check out more of his impressive work below, or better yet, go see it up close!



Taylor recently posted photos of his latest additions, saying, ‘New series of works using suburban styled houses as artificial reefs with individual “rooms” for marine life.’ See more of these houses here.



Jason Decaires Taylor, the artist behind the project, designed the sculptures from ph neutral clay in order to stimulate the growth of coral reef and marine life.



In 2009 the Cancun Underwater Museum was formed near to the popular coastal tourist destination. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Both scuba divers and snorkelers are welcome at the museum which features galleries at two depths, for both divers and snorkelers. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Each of the sculptures is made from specialized materials used to promote coral life. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



The museum's first kinetic sculpture, The Phoenix, features purple wings. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



The mysterious history of Plato's Atlantis is evoked with this underwater community. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Jason de Caires Taylor created a similar, smaller project in Grenada waters in 2006. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Some structures are symbolic - this piano reportedly represents the interactions between marine life and objects on the seabed. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Solemn scenes of solitude feature highly in the artist's work. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Scenes from everyday life above the surface feature in the museum. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



The museum has added 60 new sculptures to its collection this summer. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



Often the sculptures are based on real life events and local members of the community. (Jason de Caires Taylor)



The project's creator Jason de Caires Taylor learnt his technqiues in the UK. He combined his artistic flair with his love of the sea to create this and other similar projects. (Jason de Caires Taylor)

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