November 2010 opened the Underwater Museum of Art in Isla Mujeres, where, at a depth of 10 meters below the surface sea, is a permanent exhibition of 400 sculptures. The key point of this museum is unique and creative conservation and recovery of coral reef that has suffered years of abuse by water pollution, overfishing and diving tourism. Before it was an aquatic paradise, today, half of 120 kilometers of coral reef in the area between Cancun and Tulum, has died.
The Mesoamerican Reef stretches a thousand miles from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico to Belize, Guatemala and Honduras and is the second largest reef in the world after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. In the four Latin American countries, almost 60% of the reefs are in poor or critical condition and they desperately need special care for the ecosystem to flourish again. The great diversity of this reef includes about 60 types of coral, spiny lobster, conch, white turtle, hawksbill and sea turtles, crocodiles, dolphins, whale sharks and more than 500 species of fish. The reef is also a vital site for breeding and feeding of all these species, as well as being associated with coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, lagoons and mangroves, all endangered.
One of the main attractions of Cancun as a tourist destination has been diving. Swim with fish of all kinds, size and color is a wonderful experience. However, it has allowed the exploitation of the habitat in tourism development, which has contributed the deterioration of coral. Another important aspect is the effect of climate change in this region has resulted in more frequent storms, more violent hurricanes and coral bleaching. That is why born Underwater Art Museum (MUSA), whose exhibition of sculptures formed Cancun Underwater Sculpture Museum. Its aim is precisely to protect the coral reef.
The sculptures of human figures were created by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor. are made from cement and other materials that are durable and secure sensitive marine environment with the idea that corals can adhere to the figures and build on them. sounds great and it is: it is already yielding results. Be sure to view photos and videos of these extraordinary figures in the process of change in the league www.underwatersculpture.com or YouTube. The figures are life size and are part of the collection "The Quiet Evolution" offers a historical overview from the Mayan civilization, the conquest of Independence and the Revolution to the present. are placed on a base of between one and three tons and bolted to a rocky surface to ensure stability and to support the strong surge in times of hurricane. The project, which is promoted by the SEMARNAT and the Cancún Nautical Association, is ongoing and more figures will be submerged during 2011.
The figures will then form an artificial reef where the coral will grow and establish a new ecosystem, diverting attention from the natural reefs and allowing the time needed for repair and regenerate. Jason de Caires Taylor, the creator of these figures, has a deep respect and love for the sea. is a diving instructor and photographer, fascinated by the relationship between the sea and the earth and feels great motivation for their conservation. His first work underwater is in Grenada, West Indies, and is currently the Artistic Director of the MUSA in Cancun.
We understand that climate change is a source of much damage as a result of the conditions that the world is now, but we are not always informed of the positive initiatives that arise from the same source. Taylor has used his artistic talent to help the MAR in an extraordinary way, with the intention of achieving a long-term effect, combining his work with the sea in such a way that gives new life to the reef. How wonderful.
article published in the Union of Morelos on January 18, 2011
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