A real-life Atlantis: British artist creates stunning sculpture city under the sea off Mexico Jason deCaires Taylor has unveiled his latest sculptures at the Museo Subacuatico de Arte in Cancun, Mexico The eerie new pieces include the submerged heads of the anchors on an American television news show By STEVE NOLAN PUBLISHED: 16:22 GMT, 16 October 2013 | UPDATED: 20:39 GMT, 16 October 2013 s Hes previously caused a splash in the art world by creating a real life city of Atlantis, sinking a life-size sculpture of a Volkswagen Beetle and even a house. And now British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has unveiled his latest collection of sub-aquatic art - this time with a serious message. The 39-year-old has unveiled a new series of works in the Museo Subacuatico de Arte, the subaquatic museum he co-founded back in 2009 off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. The new pieces include the submerged cement heads of the anchors on American news show NBC Today, cast when deCaires Taylor appeared on the show, which sit eerily amid a bed of sea grass. Under the sea: Jason deCaires Taylors underwater sculpture Vein Man at the Museo Subacu·tico de Arte. Over time bright yellow fire coral will travel along the stainless steel lattice and look like blood through veins Under the sea: Jason deCaires Taylors underwater sculpture Vein Man at the Museo Subacu·tico de Arte. Over time bright yellow fire coral will travel along the stainless steel lattice and look like blood through veins Life below the surface: The Anchors, a sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor, sits in a bed of sea grass Life below the surface: The Anchors, a sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor, sits in a bed of sea grass Living art: An underwater sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, entitled Resurrection. The work uses live purple Gorgonian fan coral (Gorgonia flabellum), which had been displaced from the reef system in a storm Living art: An underwater sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, entitled Resurrection. The work uses live purple Gorgonian fan coral (Gorgonia flabellum), which had been displaced from the reef system in a storm Man on fire: The artists sculpture Self-Immolation, is made from black pH neutral marine cement, and depicts a solitary burning figure. Over time it will be overrun with fast-growing, bright yellow live fire coral Man on fire: The artists sculpture Self-Immolation, is made from black pH neutral marine cement, and depicts a solitary burning figure. Over time it will be overrun with fast-growing, bright yellow live fire coral A number of the new works deal with the devastation of the natural marine habitat. One of the sculptures, called No Turning Back, a cement cast of a hunched-over woman, alludes to the loss of Caribbean coral reefs, while Self-Immolation depicts a solitary burning figure - a reference to the practice of setting yourself on fire as a form of political protest. Made from black pH neutral marine cement, the work is augmented with stainless steel spines, and over time it will be overrun with fast-growing, bright yellow live fire coral which will mimic flames. Mr deCaires Taylor said: I try to use the work to highlight the huge losses were having and how our blue planet is changing quite dramatically. Talking art: The Speaker stands in a bed of sea grass. The sculpture is planted with more than 200 cuttings of rare Acropora Prolifera coral Talking art: The Speaker stands in a bed of sea grass. The sculpture is planted with more than 200 cuttings of rare Acropora Prolifera coral Stunning: The sculpture is planted with more than 200 cuttings of the rare Acropora Prolifera coral, in Cancun, Mexico Stunning: The sculpture is planted with more than 200 cuttings of the rare Acropora Prolifera coral, in Cancun, Mexico Prolific: DeCaires Taylor now has 510 sculptural works permanently on display at the site, many of which feature live coral Prolific: DeCaires Taylor now has 510 sculptural works permanently on display at the site, many of which feature live coral Latest additions: The 39-year-old has unveiled a new series of works in the Museo Subacuatico de Arte, the subaquatic museum he co-founded back in 2009 off the coast of Cancun, Mexico Latest additions: The 39-year-old has unveiled a new series of works in the Museo Subacuatico de Arte, the subaquatic museum he co-founded back in 2009 off the coast of Cancun, Mexico Future generations arent going to see the same number of species and fantastic pristine reefs. But I want to balance that sadness - in order to inspire people, you have to offer them hope as well. Another of deCaires Taylors sculptures is Resurrection, a winged angelic-looking figure, which uses live purple Gorgonian fan coral, rescued after being displaced from the reef system and damaged during a recent storm. Strong currents around the museum meant that the sculptures had to be craned from a bridge into a nearby canal and then toed out to the site. The Dover, Kent, born artist said: Some of these were much more delicate than pieces Ive made before, so it was difficult working in tough conditions. Art with a message: A number of the new works deal with the devastation of the natural marine habitat Art with a message: A number of the new works deal with the devastation of the natural marine habitat Art with a message: A number of the new works deal with the devastation of the natural marine habitat Natural subject: No Turning Back in the Museo Subacu·tico de Arte in Cancun, Mexico, a cement cast of a hunched-over woman, alludes to the tragic loss of Caribbean coral reefs Natural subject: No Turning Back in the Museo Subacu·tico de Arte in Cancun, Mexico, a cement cast of a hunched-over woman, alludes to the tragic loss of Caribbean coral reefs Artistic installation: One of the artists latest sculptures is pictured being lowered down into the water at the submarine park Artistic installation: One of the artists latest sculptures is pictured being lowered down into the water at the submarine park Last light: The sculpture gets one last glimpse of daylight before being completely submerged by the water Last light: The sculpture gets one last glimpse of daylight before being completely submerged by the water Getting wet: No turning back is carefully winched into the water and placed on a rock at the bottom of the ocean Getting wet: No turning back is carefully winched into the water and placed on a rock at the bottom of the ocean I had to box some of them up in crates and then sink them underwater in their crates. Believe me, taking a crate apart underwater is difficult. DeCaires Taylor now has 510 sculptural works permanently on display at the site, although these are his final additions for the time being as he prepares to relocate back to Europe. However, the museum has been a huge success, receiving 250,000 visitors each year, and deCaires Taylor is trying to secure funding to eventually expand it to include 8,000 figures - more than the famous Terracotta Army. He said: Im leaving Mexico, but Ive got this legacy here, that my daughter can come back in twenty years time and it will still be there. Some of his more creative works include a life-size version of a Volkswagen Beetle and an underwater city of homes. Got that sinking feeling: Vein man sticks above the surface of the water as it is placed underwater using a crane hook Hands on: Artist Jason deCaires Taylor gets into the water himself to help lower one of his sculptures into place Hands on: Vein Man sticks out of the top of the water as it is lowered down by a crane hook, left, while artist Jason deCaires Taylor gets into the water himself to help lower one of his sculptures into place, right Preparation work: Jason deCaires Taylor works on his sculpture Self-Immolation in his studio in Cancun Preparation work: Jason deCaires Taylor works on his sculpture Self-Immolation in his studio in Cancun Expanding: The museum has been a huge success, receiving 250,000 visitors each year, and deCaires Taylor is trying to secure funding to eventually expand the site to 8,000 figures Expanding: The museum has been a huge success, receiving 250,000 visitors each year, and deCaires Taylor is trying to secure funding to eventually expand the site to 8,000 figures
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 06:13:59 +0000
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