Underwater Sculptures Create Man-made Reef

Read About Jason de Caires Taylor's Amazing Undersea Artworks

Mar 2, 2009

Sculptor Jason de Caires Taylor creates fantastic works on the bottom of the sea. Find out more about the vision and philosophy that guides his work.

Jason de Caires Taylor is an artist who is making an amazing splash! Born in 1974 to an English father and Guyanese mother, he had an exotic upbringing in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. He studied art at Camberwell College of Arts, University of Art London from which he graduated with the BA Honors in Sculpture and Ceramics in 1988

His interest in sea life and diving led him to become a fully qualified diving instructor and underwater naturalist and he now has some 14 years of scuba diving experience in a variety of countries.

Combining his twin interests he has become the first artist to create masterpieces of underwater art. In May 2006 he gained world wide recognition for creating the world’s first underwater sculpture park in Grenada, West Indies. His sculptures are designed to be both beautiful and practical. After some time in the water they start to become encrusted with marine life, creating artificial reefs and providing homes for fish and other sea creatures.

Taylor's sculptures are designed to decay, blend and merge into the underwater environment which, in fact, enhances their beauty and lends them a strange etherial quality.

Jason de Caires Taylor's Catalogue

In 2006 Jason de Caires Taylor created the Underwater Sculpture Park, 65 figurative submerged works, Moiliniere Bay, Grenada, West Indies. In 2007 he created Vicissitudes, a permanent installation of 26 cement casts of children, placed underwater to create an artificial reef. The total weight of the installation is 16 tons and it covers 25sq metres.

In 2008 he created Un-Still Life II, Muncipality of Paliani, Crete, Greece – a land-based sculpture made out of travertine marble. He also created Inverted Solitude, a submerged figure at The National Diving and Activity Centre, Chepstow, UK and Alluvia, The River Stour, Canterbury, Kent, UK.

The latter can be easily viewed by the visitor to the historic city of Canterbury in the UK. Alluvia comprises two female figures, cast in cement and recycled glass resin. They are positioned within sight of the Westgate Bridge and its adjoining gardens. The underwater sculptures lie submerged and fixed to the bed of the river Stour. At night the the forms magically light up from within.

Jason de Caires Taylor's Philosophy

Jason says that all of his work is about change and forming objects that mirror the evolutions of our lives. He believes in using sculpture as a way to convey hope, inspiring people to consider their interactions with the natural world and build a sustainable future.

He hopes that his work highlights how over time we have started to disassociate ourselves from the natural environment, although we are we are actually part of our environment at all times.

He says "The most fundamental axis of our lives is the inevitability of change. My sculptures aren’t memorials. They’re about the here and now. There’s no ownership or possession”. He also believes that all humans have an intrinsic desire and fascination to return to the sea. His undersea art may be all the motivation that some people need to don the scuba gear and get right down there!

Reference

The copyright of the article Underwater Sculptures Create Man-made Reef in Statues is owned by Christine Fadhley. Permission to republish Underwater Sculptures Create Man-made Reef in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.