Perreault Magazine - 86 -
For sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the ocean is more than a muse — it's an exhibition space and museum. Taylor creates sculptures of human forms and mundane life on land and sinks them to the ocean floor, where they are “subsumed” by the sea and transformed from lifeless stone into vibrant habitats for corals, crustaceans and other creatures. The result: works of permanent art that act as artificial reefs, attracting corals,increasing marine biomass and attracting fish species while diverting tourists away from fragile natural reef systems.His pioneering public art projects are not only examples of successful marine conservation, but works of art that seek to encourage environmental awareness, instigate social change and lead us to appreciate the breathtaking natural beauty of the underwater world.
“For more than ten years I have been submerging permanent works of art under the surface of our oceans. They are both designed to promote the regeneration of marine life and also to convey hope and awareness for the plight of our oceans.”