Jason deCaires Taylor's Underwater Museums: Art, Conservation, and Climate Change
Jason deCaires Taylor, a British artist, has established underwater sculpture parks that act as dynamic museums, intertwining art with marine preservation. His inaugural installation debuted in the Caribbean in 2006, followed by creations in Cancun, Mexico; the Thames in London; and Lanzarote. Born in 1974, Taylor pursued art studies in London and transitioned to a full-time artist at the age of 30. His sculptures, crafted from pH-neutral cement, foster coral growth and support marine ecosystems. Among his prominent pieces are 'The Raft of Lampedusa' (Museo Atlantico, Lanzarote), 'Reclamation' (2009, MUSA, Cancun), 'Silent Evolution' (2010, MUSA), and 'Crossing the Rubicon' (2017, Museo Atlantico). Taylor’s work is celebrated for its environmental and political significance.
Key facts
- Jason deCaires Taylor installed the first undersea sculpture park in the Caribbean in 2006.
- Taylor has created installations in Cancun, Mexico; the Thames in London; and Lanzarote, Canary Islands.
- Taylor was born in 1974 to an English father and Guyanese mother.
- He studied art in London and became a full-time artist at age 30.
- Sculptures are made from pH-neutral cement that encourages coral growth and marine habitation.
- The underwater parks display up to 400-500 life-size sculptures.
- The Raft of Lampedusa is a homage to Théodore Géricault's Raft of the Medusa (1891).
- Silent Evolution (2010) at MUSA features 400 casts of locals.
- More sites are being planned.
Entities
Artists
- Jason deCaires Taylor
- Théodore Géricault
Institutions
- Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA)
- Museo Atlantico
- Installation Magazine
- The Guardian
- BBC
Locations
- Caribbean
- Cancun
- Mexico
- Thames
- London
- Lanzarote
- Spain
- Canary Islands