At Museo Atlántico, the iconic works of Jason deCaires Taylor await swimmers and divers
The latest creations of underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor lies under 40 feet of clear water in the Canary Islands. In recent years, Taylor has created iconic underwater sculpture displays in Grenada, Cancun and the Bahamas. The Museo Atlántico exhibition is located in the Bahía de Las Coloradas, just off the south coast of the island of Lanzarote.
The work known as Crossing the Rubicon shows a group of figures walking towards a gateway in a 100-foot underwater wall. This is said to represent the absurdity of creating barriers. Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor
The submerged gallery includes 12 tableaus with more than 300 life-size human figures. Taylor says that the collection is designed to provoke environmental awareness and social change. As an added element, the collection also serves as an artificial reef that attracts and shelters marine life. The exhibition can be toured by scuba divers and snorkelers, who follow a trail to discover the site’s narrative.
The work known as Los Jolateros depicts a group of children paddling a type of small skiff that island youth traditionally fabricate from oil drums and scrap metal. Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor
Among the noteworthy pieces is a Wall to Nowhere sculpture created to emphasize that notions of ownership and territories are irrelevant to the natural world. The final piece on the swimming tour is The Human Gyre, which is a large circle of over 200 life-size human figures representing all ages and all walks of life. The site can be visited by excursion boats departing from the island’s Marina Rubicón. More can be seen at www.cactlanzarote.com.
The Raft of Lampedusa is dedicated to a group of sailors who drifted to the island of Lanzarote on a life raft after being lost at sea when their ship sank off the coast of Senegal. Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor
