One of my very favorite artists is Jason deCaires Taylor. His underwater sculptures have long intrigued me. I can't WAIT to get underwater and see them. We've interviewed Jason about the Underwater Sculpture Park he created in Grenada. We've also written about his underwater sculptures in Mexico, and his Rising Tide on the Thames in London. 

Now, Jason deCaires Taylor is installing the first phase of sculptures in Museo Atlantico, the first underwater contemporary art museum in Europe and the Atlantic Ocean. Situated in clear blue waters off the coast of Lanzarote, Spain, the unique, permanent installation is constructed 14m beneath the surface, accessible to snorkelers and divers. The Museum will be open to visitors after the 25th of February 2016.

Installing Lampudesa

The Raft of Lampedusa

Raft of Lampedusa: a harrowing depiction of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, referencing French Romantic painter Théodore Géricault's work: The Raft of the Medusa. Drawing parallels between the abandonment suffered by sailors in his shipwreck scene and the current refugee crisis, the work is not intended as a tribute or memorial to the many lives lost but as a stark reminder of the collective responsibiliy of our now global community.

The Raft of Lampedusa

The Rubicon

The project, drawing on the dialogue between art and nature, is designed on a conservational level to create a large scale artificial reef to aggregate local fish species and increase marine biomass whilst raising awareness to current threats facing the worlds oceans. The main installation, The Rubicon, features a group of 35 people walking towards a gate, a point of no return or a portal to another world. 

The Rubicon (above and below)

The project, funded and supported by the government of Lanzarote, will also consist of an underwater botanical garden, celebrating Lanzarote’s long standing relationship with art and nature. 

Hybrid Cactus

To learn more:

Read more about the Museo Atlantico an in-depth article about the new works in The Guardian by Susan Smillie

New TED talk now online: Our oceans are sacred. A new Ted talk about about the process and philosophy behind Jason's pioneering projects.

And, as always, dig into Jason's site: www.jasondecairestaylor.com

All photos and information courtesy and copyright Jason deCaires Taylor