Artificial ‘Human Reef’ in Cancun Sea Fully Grown, Looks to Protect Natural Corals [Underwater PHOTOS]
Caires Taylor’s artificial reef was planned to draw tourists away from the natural corals, a step that would protect marine life and amuse tourists at the same time.
The Silent Evolution, a project comprising of installation of 400 life-size human sculptures on the sea bed off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, is now reaping beaming results – almost all the statues are now adorned with the artificial coral reef.Jason de Caires Taylor
The Silent Evolution, a project comprising of installation of 400 life-size human sculptures on the sea bed off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, is now reaping beaming results – almost all the statues are now adorned with the artificial coral reef.Jason de Caires TaylorThe sculptures are made of a special type of cement which has a neutral pH that encourages coral to grow.Jason de Caires TaylorBritish artist Jason de Caires Taylor created the sculptures. These are located underwater between Cancun and Isla Mujeres National Marine Park. Over 750,000 people visit the marine park every year that puts a huge pressure on the natural reef.Jason de Caires TaylorThe statues were designed to draw tourists away from the natural corals, a step that would protect marine life and amuse tourists at the same time.Jason de Caires TaylorThe Silent Evolution sculptures are also promoting tourism in a barren sea and attracting adventurers towards something unusually artistic under water.Jason de Caires TaylorCreated by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, the sculptures are made of a special type of cement which has a neutral pH that encourages coral to grow.Jason de Caires TaylorMost of the statues are now already adorned with artificial reef drawing tourists away from the natural corals, a step that would protect marine life and amuse tourists at the same time.Jason de Caires TaylorAn underwater sculpture park, created by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, is seen between Cancun and Isla Mujeres.Jason de Caires TaylorFigures are seen in underwater sculpture installation "The Silent Evolution" by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor between Cancun and Isla Mujeres Dec. 11, 2010. Taylor used 'life casts' made from materials that encourage coral growth to build the installation on the sea bed off the coast of Cancun. The installation will form a new home for a variety of aquatic creatures at the Cancun and Isla Mujeres National Marine Park and is designed to reduce the impact over half a million tourists have on the area's natural reefs every year, the artist said.REUTERS/Jorge Silva400 human bodies make up coral under Cancun sea,Jason de Caires Taylor
The Silent Evolution, a project comprising of an installation of 400 life-sized human sculptures on the sea bed off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, is now reaping handsome results - almost all the statues are now adorned with the artificial coral reef.
Created by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, the sculpture park is located underwater between Cancun and the Isla Mujeres National Marine Park and was designed to reduce the impact that the yearly visit of nearly three-quarters of a million tourists has. Marine scientists have long expressed their concern of the dangers of tourist activity on the natural formation.
Taylor's artificial reef, therefore, was planned to draw tourists away from the natural corals... a step that could protect marine life and amuse tourists at the same time. The artist completed the full installation by the end of 2010 and just about a year later, the sculptures are a delightful hub for artificially grown corals as well as home for a variety of aquatic creatures.
The sculptures are made of a special type of cement which has a neutral pH that encourages coral to grow and to satisfy his aesthetic side Taylor's sculptures explore the relationships between art, science and the environment.
Another advantage of the Silent Evolution sculptures is that this "human reef" promotes tourism in an otherwise barren sea and attracts adventurers towards something unusually artistic under water. These reefs on human faces may look scary at times but that has not kept tourists at bay. The reefs are accessible from both Cancun and the Isla Mujeres National Marine Park.
Check out the slideshow to view photographs of these underwater sculptures... both from when they were first immersed to the latest images, showing these coral-clad statues standing tall to protect the natural coral reefs...