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Underwater museum features more than 300 artworks
The sculptures will help form part of an artificial reef
It’s been two years in the making, but Europe’s first underwater museum is finally complete.
Deep in waters off the Spain’s Lanzarote island and accessible only to snorkelers, divers and sea life, the Museo Atlantico (Atlantic Museum) features more than 300 sculptures by international artist Jason deCaires Taylor.
Submerged at depths of between 12 and 15 meters (39 to 49 feet) on the seafloor of Las Coloradas bay, the enigmatic human figures will help form part of an artificial reef, acting as a breeding site for local species.
DeCaires Taylor has supplied similar sculpture installations at underwater museums in the Bahamas, Mexico and the Antilles.
“The whole idea was for it to become a portal to another world,” says DeCaires Taylor, who’s supplied similar sculpture installations at underwater museums in the Bahamas, Mexico and the Antilles.
His work, made from environmentally friendly concrete, portrays scenes from everyday life and is aimed at raising awareness of oceanic issues. Submerged at depths of between 12 and 15 meters, the enigmatic human figures will help form part of an artificial reef, acting as a breeding site for local species.
Says DeCaires Taylor, “I want it to inspire people to understand more about our oceans and the threats facing it.”
The sculptures include one titled “Content” — showing a couple taking a sub-aquatic selfie. Another, “The Rubicon,” involves 35 human figures walking beneath the waves.
The video below shows some of the artworks being lowered into the water in February last year, shortly before it first opened to the public.
Submerge into mystic realm of the underwater museum
underwatermuseumlanzarote.com; +34 928 518 668