The Spanish island of Lanzarote has opened an underwater museum, giving divers and scuba divers the opportunity to explore 12 works by renowned sculptor Jason Taylor inspired by the theme of protecting the world’s oceans. The Museo Atlantico on the south coast of the island consists of submerged works of art that form an artificial reef at the bottom of the sea.
Numerous divers are already exploring Taylor’s underwater worlds, including a sculpture called “Crossing the Rubicon” with a crowd of people at an open door, “Portal” with an inverted mirror, and “Disconnected” where a young couple takes a selfie. Taylor’s creation is both a work of art and artificial reefs, created using a special grade of cement that is completely non-toxic and has a neutral acid-base balance. This means the sculptures are free from harmful pollutants and will soon become home to corals, fish and crustaceans.
According to Muzeo Atlantico manager Anibal Vega-Almeida, the local community’s initial skepticism quickly turned into benevolent approval of the project. ‘The project has been widely accepted by the islanders, especially the diving centres, which have presented many opportunities for development,’ he said.
The Center for Arts, Culture and Tourism (CACT) is a 50 year old project founded by internationally renowned artist and local resident Cesar Manrique, and the Museo Atlantico is part of it. It belongs to a network of nine centers that combine art with nature. Other centers scattered around the island and include the volcanic formations of Cueva Verdes and Jameos del Aqua, a cactus garden with over 10,000 different plants, and the old castle of San José, converted into a modern art museum. Museo Atlantico will definitely join the list of the most unusual museums in the world.
A similar museum of underwater sculptures is also located in Cancun, Mexico. You can look at its exhibits in a separate article on LifeGlobe.