Sea World
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 2:40PM 
Where do I begin? Jason deCaires Taylor's breathtaking underwater sculptures are nothing short of pure genius. I am obsessed.
Over 400 life-sized sculptures have been permanently anchored on the seabed of the National Marine Park of Cancún, Isla Mujeres, and Punta Nizuc. These sculptures are the first installations in Cancún's new underwater museum, Museo Subacuático de Arte.
Each sculpture was cast from a real person to represent a cross-section of Mexican society. They are formed with a special pH-neutral cement, designed specifically to support and encourage aquatic life while acting as an artificial barrier to protect nearby reefs. Some of the earlier installments are already flourishing with new coral growth, which completes the sculptures and brings them to life. In Taylor's words, "It is a symbiosis of humans and nature living in this cycle in harmony with each other."
A little eerie and spooky? Yes. Completely and utterly fascinating? You bet! Can you imagine going for a dip and coming upon these statues? I would probably freak my freak, but these living sculptures are undenyably gorgeous and spellbinding.
Reader Comments (6)
This looks like something Alexander McQueen would have designed. It reminds me of his Plato's Atlantis collection. These sculptures, like McQueen's work, are simultaneously unsettling and mesmerizing.
i was wondering who made those sculptures...
that is so cool!! the coral and other sea life kinda decorate the statues and give them their own personality. it's like clothes and accessories for them. i would LOVE to see this!! the fat man vegging in front of the tv made me laugh...hehehe
I love how it is environmentally friendly and encouraging sea life! =) i love the couch potato too
Wow! So awesome! I would love to see that in person! I would probably "freak my freak" too =D
how amazing! there's something like anarchy in the fact that a sculptor leaves his work out in the open to be crusted over with nature. that's inspiring :)