Above: A diver explores 'The Silent Evolution' in Mexico.
Jason De Caires Taylor is an artist who designs and creates art installations to be placed in underwater locations, often viewable only by diving.
The stunning locations, and scores of fish and wildlife that make their homes in the sculptures, add to the amazing workmanship of the art itself. The sculptures have been designed to change over time as the natural habitat of the water forms itself around the installations.
Based all over the world in locations including Granada, Mexico, Greece, and two locations in the UK; Chepstow and Canterbury, Taylor uses materials carefully selected for their environmentally friendly qualities and which actively promote coral growth.
Above: The many student's faces who helped to create an installation off the shores of Moilinere's Bay in Grenada.
Taylor's work in Mexico is the largest underwater artificial art exhibition, and includes 403 life-size permanent sculptures, covering an area of over 420 square metres of once barren sea bed.
The museum he has created titled 'MUSA Museo Subacuático de Arte' hosts four different installations, each created by Taylor himself.
Starting with a degree in sculpture and ceramics, Taylor went on to learn such skills as stone carving, set design and concert installation.
As as a child, he grew up around the coral reefs of Malaysia. Marrying his passion for diving and marine conservation, as well as the skills he had learnt throughout his life, led him to develop his unique underwater sculptures.
His installations aim to attract tourists away from natural reefs, allowing them to recover and are designed "to promote the regeneration of marine life and to use sculpture as a means of conveying hope and awareness of the plight of our oceans"
With two of Taylor's stunning installations based in the UK, his work is accessible for us Brits, but I can't help but think it's a fantastic excuse to visit Granada or Mexico to view his larger installations!
