Drowning Beautiful
26 October 2010
615 Comments
Sometimes an artist creates something so beautifully simple that it takes your breath away…. literally. (hack line – couldn’t help it) Artist Jason de Caires Taylor creates life-size cement sculptures of people and submerges them into the waters of South America. As time passes the sculptures become part of the underwater landscape and slowly become artificial reefs ripe with marine life. The process of experiencing artwork out of a traditional gallery and underwater is described with intimately vivid detail on his site. Absolutely incredible execution merging art, life and the wild seas into an ever-evolving textured aesthetic that will hopefully stand the test of time. Although, I wouldn’t hold our breath. (Dammit! I did it again) Wow.
Related Posts
Skull Vomit
The Book Surgeon
The size of Ron Mueck
that is totally kick arse!!! i would do it!
this is so beautiful , unearthly so, or maybe just underearthly, like a watery heaven…
Just stunning! Can you imagine witnessing these in person. Wow.
This is so beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s absolutely breathtaking!!
Breathtaking. Really.
WOW, pretty much somes up what I think of this.
So beautiful. Who would have thought that some thing so simple could be so beautiful. What a wonderful idea. Can’t stop looking at the pictures. Great work.
Astounding
I’m beautifully, peacefully speechless. Bravo, Jason!
Pure poetry
Do you know how many people in the future are going to find these and come up with some crazy story as to how they got there LOL
It’s amazing, but it just seems like he is littering for art.
Wow, this is absolutely incredible. I so want to go and see this.
wow, this is so amazing. as a scuba diver and a photographer…this just blows me away. I want to dive these sites so bad!
Wow. Just wow. This is so amazing!Eire but so beautiful.
Fantastic! Definitely another art form. Makes me want to take up scuba Diving.
Fantastic! Definitely another art form. Makes me want to take up Scuba diving.
very very beautiful…..
Seems like the perfect place to hide a body….lol.
It shows how beautiful and adaptive nature really can be.
Truly inspiring.
Splendor of the deep, revisted. Peace and safety down there….
I’ts absolutely beautiful and scary at the same time. thanks for sharing
Carol – My thoughts exactly! People will find these centuries into the future and who knows what they will think. I’d be willing to bet that they won’t think it is art, though.
Anyway, amazing concept, and great pieces!
AWSOME! I really like it…
Where is it?
creepy & cool at the same time, but indeed such amazing talent and creativity. love it.
I think it’s downright freaky.
Rapture…
The first thing thing I thought of after looking at this, besides it being beautiful and breathtaking, was that what if in maybe hundreds of years from now, if someone found these what would they think? They’d probably think it was some kind of ritual, but I’m pretty art wouldn’t be theb first vthing on their minds.
I wish I could think stuff like this up.
In reply to the person who said it was littering all I can say is, did you not see the sea creatures making their homes on the sculptures?
Incredibly beautiful. Well done. I wish I had thought of it. I’m sharing these pictures with everyone. Thank you.
[...] http://24flinching.com/word/gold-seal/inspiring-artists/drowning-beautiful/ [...]
[...] Artist Jason de Caires Taylor created life-size cement sculptures of people and submerged them into the waters of South America. As time passes, the sculptures become part of the underwater landscape and slowly become artificial reefs ripe with marine life. We think this merging of art, life and the sea is incredible. [Source] [...]
Much of the group work that is being colonised by corals etc., is reminiscent of Barbarella, where those to good to live in the city of evil just become a massive work of art – except they remain alive…
I feel bad for whoever discovers these in the far future.
watch someone is going to find those in 1,000 years and freak out
This is the work of a serial killer and disguised as “art” Hiding the bodies in plain sight! lol I’m kidding but wouldnt it be funny if it was true?
Amazing sculptures and then to put them under the water makes them even more special and unique. Very interesting and beautiful.
It’s so beautiful but gross at the same time and by the way by the time someone discovers them in the future they probably wont be able to recognizes it cause of all the stuff growing on them.
I love that over time, nature collaborates with the artist on these installations. Wonderful work!
I love this. I love the way the coral has grown on the females head. Making it look like part of their wardrobe.
cement is such a highly energy intensive product, that the “artistic beauty” of such a project is completely negated by its enormous carbon footprint. The irony is maddening at how he “creates” an artificial reef system with a product who’s genesis is a major contributing factor to the extinction of natural reef systems. conserve, preserve and appreciate natural beauty; art can work within environmentally sound principles, but I believe this is not an example of that.
The first sentence needs to say “breath” instead of “breathe”
Also, it’s funny how people think that hundreds of years from now we somehow won’t know where these came from.
Thiiiis is really creepy.
It’s interesting to think of an idea and then realize 17 other people thought of the same thing…it’s a wonderful time capsule. Secondly, only one comment was left about putting mass amounts of cement into the water…however, one might ask themselves: if we do it everyday above water with no complaints why not underwater?
A modern Atlantis underwater gallery is what I see.
this is so cool!!!! just thing one day when we are all gone some one will say who did this or who werethay? and then some one will say thay were an ancent sivlztion that was ternd to stone but madosa and not this is were thay are> hehehehehe!!!! but yea this are vary cool and i think what this person has don is somthing to think about!!!!
The lifeguard instincts in me would have me jumping in to save some of these statues.
show more of the bikini swimmer girl
What truly fabulous artwork! Over time, our reefs are slowing diminishing. These people will become a masterppiece of “Living Creations” underwater. Years from now, people will be able to see what are were like…The expressions are awesome…Thank you
First off, it’s not breathe, it’s breath. Breathe is what you do, you know.. in, out, in, out.
Second, is there no where on the planet that is sacred from the human touch? As ‘amazing’ and ‘beautiful’ as these sculptures are and the concept is… the last thing I want to see when I scuba dive or snorkel is a bunch of people. I want to see the wonder of the ocean and it’s abundant life without the reminder of people everywhere I look when I am on land.
Can we not have one place where humans don’t deliberately crowd it up?
[...] Drowning Beautiful | Beautiful drowning. [...]
Wow! and Wow again. Totally awesome. What tenacity, I wish I could dive and see them for real.
I am disturbed by this, and it kind of surprises me that I don’t really like it. I certainly admire the artistry of it, and his vision — it seems like litter in a pristine and formerly unspoiled underwater wilderness. AND…I know that my point is largely moot as the sea will grow things on those sculptures and it will go to feed and house sea life and create reef. From that perspective I appreciate it, that it is ephemeral and will not last forever.
This is wonderful, He should come to the United States and do this in our waters too.
Love your work, Id love to see more:}
Oh how beautiful! I love the concept and the final installations. It takes me breath away just looking at it. Wonderful.
Well for one I think it is quite cool.For the green peace people what are you kidding.You talk about saving reefs and you are all for taking old ships and making new reefs well whats wrong with this you talk about green plant well this is helping are plant by creating new reefs.Carbon imprints do you really know what that means just to throw that around so loosely.The good out way the bad over this by far.Cement is not made by chemicals its naturally accuring rock clay water.Believe me inorder to do what he did he had to go through alot of red tape to place this.He had to prove that this would affect the ocean positively which it will.Over time the stone people will be over taken with life and will live for hundreds of years or longer.Think about this how cool would be to have your image made and placed in the ocean and your image would onece again give life when you have gone.Come on negative people be positve.Its better to send love and support then pollute the worlds forces with your negative feeings.We have enough hatered in this world we dont need more.
LOVE !
Just think if our civilisation ever becomes extinct, the next to come will find this, it would be liek what the terracotta army was for us. This could be a link to the past for the future. top marks
Why are people sp egotistical to think everything should look like them or be about them. One would think they do not belong on this planet. *sigh*
I think this is quite beautiful but the first thing that came to my mind is if this is safe for the evironment? If this were done here in the States the artist would have to get approval from the Federal Conservation Commission and I doubt they would allow it, with scientific backing. I also agree with the comment about our waters being sacred – is there anything we can hold back from changing/disturbing?
Our waters sacred? Not really… lest anyone forget that we allow zealous oil drilling in our seas.
At least this artist’s impact on our seas has an artistic bend in mind.
Beautiful work!
Just think a million years from now, someone will discover these underwater sculptures and study them and think that an underwater Pompeii happened.
the art is becoming, a reef, i can clearly see animals thriving.
its a good thing!
and its art
and its creepy, surreal, beautiful.
BRAVO!
You are a star.
I wonder which of those all important government funded, tax dollar paid, grants paid for that little extravaganza?
I agree with the comment of( me) but they are pretty awesome, from Don downunder.NZ
I have 350 dives and my next one ,I would like it to be yours.
artist for 35 years.
What a great idea and wonderful mind that creates such beautiful art. Thanks to the artist and Mother Nature that interacts with it in such creative and colorful ways. Thanks to everybody that helped. Thanks for sharing. I wished everybody could see that.
Makes me never want to swim again but its cool as cold shit!
@Riley:
Zealous oil drilling? I’m sure you don’t depend on oil for anything in your life, huh?
That being said, these pieces are beautiful and haunting. I can appreciate the contribution the artist is making, structurally and aesthetically. Although, I’m sure, when someone “discovers” these (unlikely that they will be unknown; the internet is the best source of documentation in history, and do you really think people in the future will not use it or something better?) they will likely be unrecognizable, just another coral reef (in appearance anyway).
Absolutely Gorgeous Jason, this is some of the most compelling work I’ve seen in years…how did you fund this ???
This is creepy….. and a little morbid. Not a fan
I have a better idea. Let’s make this art functional. Let’s take the statues in the tenth pic.((the statues that can’t afford clothes)) and drop it on the whitehouse lawn. And that way the statues can be representatives of the real world.
What a wonderful idea!
As for the comments about spoiling the enviroment….this would surely be creating a new reef-not destroying one.
I am seriously in awe. I have added seeing this in person to my bucket list.
Why do humans insist on polluting everything? It may be very artistic and very deep, but really? Haven’t we dumped enough junk in our fragile oceans already?
Did they died?
INCREDIBLE!
Beautiful. Peaceful. I would love to see these in person!
@Darlene…This isn’t even in the U.S. so the irrational teabag comment is completely inappropriate.
ohmygosh, goosebumps, and i don’t think the ocean life is complaining
This kinda creeps me out. It’s cool and all, but I already have a problem getting in the water already for fear of sharks, this makes me think that I’m going to be scared of dead people at the bottom of the sea or ocean.
Amazing, I love artists that go all the way to express their passion and their art and share it in such an original way. Fabulous really and so strange to see the evolution with life growing on them. Art in art and changing all the time.
terracotta army-ish.
To whoever said this is littering, are you aware that we sink subway cars and ships to create reefs and support ocean life? These sculptures will eventually be covered with coral and a haven for fish and other organisms.
simply stunning after a while..
I personally find this disgusting. I agree with several others, is nothing sacred? The last thing I want to see on the bottom of the ocean is a bunch of concrete people. I go to the ocean to get away from concrete.
Too cool.. wow.
fantastic combination of creativity and beauty while attempting to reestablish a vital ecosystem. Interesting artifact to leave behind when we are all gone.
Revulting!
This really brought tears to my eyes. Absolutely amazing.
Let’s just put humans in another place they don’t belong. I would rather see the beauty of the ocean without thinking of humans, although I like that they are helping establish more reefs. Just wish they didn’t use human sculptures.
wow truly a work of art, inspired and very original
Imagine just swimming along and then seeing that! That is SOOOO Cool!
After reading all the comments, I can only say that the artist has made an incredible impact, both positive and negative. That is what art is about.
Finally something that will let people 100′s of generations from now know who and what kinda people we were in the 21st century. I was very disappointed when I read (the other day) that the current way of storing information about who and what we are as a society in the 21st century has the potential to “bio=degrade” in roughly 100-150 years or so. That means that “if” we as a “digital” society continuously keep transfering everything we want to save (such and writings, pictures, books, movies, etc.) into digital form and saving them on disks, harddrives, zip drives, etc. that my childrens, grandchildren will not have record of the kind of society that we are today, simply because, unless it was copied numberous times over into the latest format for saving it will have biodegraded by then. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Incans had the right idea by inscribing stories and pictures of exactly what kind of society they were in stone, thus lasting centuries and giving us much of the knowlegde we have about each of their cultures and the different acheivements of each. This is WAY cool and am glad someone finally took our society and set it in stone in such a way that people many many years from now can look at and gain a relative understanding of what kind of society we are now and how they became what they are 100,s maybe even 1000′s of years from now. Thank you!!!
Although the idea is wonderful and amazing, I agree with a lot of others, keep it out of the ocean. Enough is in the ocean we don’t need people there also.
We do see the ocean as a beautiful, wonderful, place to get away from “life” when things on top of this earth get to be to much, even if you don’t dive it is a serene place to see. Don’t ruin the solitude it has by putting people there. The ocean is for marine life not people or God would have made people to live in the ocean.
You are a great artist, try putting it in the desert or something, not in our waters.
I think this is awesome. Of course, it would probably freak me out if I were to dive down into the ocean without knowing what was down there. I think this is unbelievable. Kudos.
This is so beautiful. I don’t know about anybody else, but if I was diving/swiming/boating in the ocean and saw one of those I would probably have a heart attack.
I opened this while just having finished listening to the news of how much is overfished, and how little we have left to feed humankind. I know how the oceans are full of pools of plastic as big as states that spin. I know we have dead spots all over the world where there is no oxygen in the water whatsoever any more and it is a trap for life at its edge. I know that concrete is something very much a concern on land because it doesn’t let rain get down into the soil as nature needs. I know the talent to make those is a gift probably with a lot of practice thrown in. I know we were not all meant to be scholars or statesmen or even mothers and fathers. I know that love is a wonderful thing, and beauty is loved with great and marginal innocence as well as by evil intentions.
It is time, even though it is painful to those traumatized by harsh experience, to consider what is really needed, by the near future, by the creatures who need to survive the ocean’s insults, by the children trying to grow and follow their nature. Take a hard step, and listen what you said, look in the mirror and imagine fish swimming by, and imagine what they want to tell you about their lives.
There is beauty, some times pain too, in truth.
Live Aware,
- C
I love statues, but I don’t like these below the waters. The odd statue growing coral is nice, but the multitudes here – like a standing cemetery or crowd – disturb me, suggesting that they have been disposed rather than thoughtfully placed. I like the outward facing circle and scenes though.
The name bothers me. Drowning isn’t beautiful, and so ‘drowning-beautiful’ really bothers me and sounds violent. Beautiful ‘drowned’ things like sunken real stone, wood, or marble statues are better. I think the project is a little bit gimmicky – but I’m sure divers will come in droves – they need a beachside attraction, and this is definitely unique. I don’t think that makes it good art though – there is just too much of it.
There are lots of other materials that would be better for creating a reef, especially as the forms won’t be visible soon. Cement is so ephemeral, and consumes so much fire to be created before it can be wet and cast.
Just amazing!!! Not enough words to describe this! Something new different adventourus! Kinda makes me itchy tho seeing all the corals n crustations growing on the faces of the sculptures!
wow, imagine how our great-great-…grand children will see that in 200 years….
Wow. Very interesting.
[...] Drowning Beautiful | Underwater sculptures – beautiful. [...]
My God. I am so grateful to this man.
Personally I think its Hauntingly Beautiful. And for those groaning about putting sculptures of Humans at the bottom of the ocean floor where they “don’t belong” …
Think about that the next time you feed your goldfish
And besides, God did put people at the bottom of the ocean floor. Atlantis, Noah’s flood, etc… need I continue?
His artwork is an extension of him, believe it or not, cement breathes, its actually helping the ecosystem.
All other arguments are just jealousy because you didn’t think of it first
Art is meant to be controversial anyway. If it moved you, whether in awe or in anger, then like it or not, the artist was a complete success lol.
Just sayin…
Thank you – this is so beautiful. It inspires me every time I see the link. on my facebook…
WOWWWWWWW…..
it would be soo cool to have a museum down there!!!
Amazing, love to experience this dive one these days.
I am just blown away. It moves me like art has not recently. I want to be there in concrete when I die.
Its like they represent those who have been lost to the sea. Forever stuck in time. Thats what come to my head at first glance. I love it.
Our arrival on a distant planet, new life will take over !
Most definitely this is quite incredible Lisle! Thank you so much for sharing it out here in Facebookland!
Margot
That is so cool! I would love to see it! I would learn to dive just to see this! Amazing!
I find the work to be astounding, relevant, a brand new way of seeing art (not an easy thing to do) Bravo!!!
What a beautiful Drowned World. Reminds me of the Ballard novel…
“nothing takes the past away like the future”
I would like to know where in South America is this, does anybody know??
Yes, its amazing and beautiful, and it seems to be doing some good, but at the same time something about it tells me that this is really wrong, and that we shouldn’t be “playing” so much with nature.
How does one say WOW underwater? This is the best underwater art
that I have seen since Cocoon’s “pods in the pool”!
This made me cry with tears of joy!!!You have NO IDEA!The timing of SEEING this is PHENOM!You have NO IDEA!: ))))!!!!!
It’s pretty f#*%ing cool, but I would have to add it to my list of things in the ocean that would probably scare the sh*t out of me, but I’d still like to see it:)
[...] Povandeninės skulptūros [...]
Gives new meaning to the term Brain Coral (also sorry but had to get in on the fun).
Wow! I’m not sure whether I’m more impressed by the aesthetics or the ecological implications. But I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned the peculiar resonance with Shakespeare’s Ariel, who in “The Tempest” (Act 1, Scene 2) says to Ferdinand,
“Full fathom five your father lies,
Of his bones are coral made:
Those are pearls that were his eyes,
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich, and strange…”
(And BTW, Sandra, while “breathe” is the act, and “breath” is what’s acted upon, it’s not “it’s”, it’s “its”. ‘Nuff said.)
[...] drowning is beautiful [IMG]ttp://24flinching.com/word/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Vicissitudes03wtmk.jpg[/IMG] Drowning Beautiful | [...]
Keep your garbage out of my ocean Fucktards!!!!
it’s all been said…absolutely brilliant!!!
Infinite All, Ain Sof, to life!
These images are hauntingly beautiful. I am so glad I live in a world where something this beautiful can be created. I wish I could hear it as well and feel the water on my skin.
FANTASTIC, BEAUTIFUL AND WHAT STORIES THESE ARTIFICIAL REEFS WILL CONJURE UP IN THE YEARS TO COME!!! AN INCREDIBLE FEAT!
Amazing!!!!! I love art and this just took my breath away. As an artist myself, I wouldn’t have thought about using the ocean floor as my canvas.
Out of this world what an ambience ..little hard to get to
true art I hope to see some of your art for reals some day
peace and thank you for sharing!
Magical.
These were absolutely beautiful i loved this so much i have never seen something so amazing. thank you who ever did this and put this on to the internet.
Stunning,Serenely beautiful, conceptually awesome.
deeply moving, yet calming and other worldly,
Such a great way to display art work.
It is natural art in continual progress.
Beautiful,creepy and overdone.
its incredible so clever and unique idea .thank you for charing.
Never saw anything like it .l can see in years to come it will be said as a lost cities..This is beautiful.
It’s captivating and very unique.
Definitely an interesting concept and fascinating images. But I think the really amazing part is the colonization of statues by sea life. I think Nature takes the prize in this one.
just stunning, simply amazing
So amazing. I wonder what people 100 years from now will think about that. They’ll probably think we buried our dead that way, or it was a shrine to “the Gods”.
Really cool. To all those people having a mini friggin’ breakdown because of the ‘carbon footprint’: get stuffed. If you are honestly so worried, here are some things which you should consider: 1. Get off the internet already – how many unicorns died to make your PC/Mac? 2. Stop driving or using anything which requires someone else to drive. 3. Destroy your house and go live in the garden instead. All that concrete …
Its art, for thousands and thousands of people to enjoy and marvel at. I’m sure it takes up such a small piece of ocean that if you didn’t want to see it you wouldn’t have to.
Hyper-sensitivity to environment – the environment’s worst enemy. Now no-one is going to take you seriously when you tackle a real issue.
echt bärig wos der macht. mechat i gern amoi owe daucha und oschaung
bin begeistert
This is very beatiful.Think what will happen if there was a life down there.
What an amazing concept; must have taken hours and hours of work to create such an interesting perspective. I love it! I love the power of nature; of the work evolving, being eroded by nature…
[...] Drowning Beautiful | Underwater sculptures – beautiful. [...]
awesome art work .. but what are the fish gonna think…
Hey
Really nice….Thanks:>)
Quite bizarre.
Yes, haunting, poetic, but ultimately litter in the pristine natural landscape?
If he had done people dancing various ways..ballrooom, Native American, ballet, belly dancing etc. it would be really beautiful until it is covered in sealife. Would love to that!
Simply beautiful!
Breath-taking. I am moved by the silent music these statues create as they simply stand there, frozen mid-thought, mid movement, gazing, reaching, grieving, exhausted, happy, sad, working, playing…all of it, all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Beautiful.
definitely reminiscent of qin shi huang’s terracotta army
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/contents/full/2009/10/16/5847.jpg
Thank you for sharing this fabulous art work and artist.
Talk about an artist creating the future. I am in awe of his imagination and work.
I wonder if this is where they got the idea for that Judd Nelson film, cabin by the lake
THIS IS SO COOL THIS IS SO DIFFERENT VERY ENJOYABLE TO READ AND SEE SO GOOD TO SEE SOMETHING GOOD BEING ADDED TO THE ENVIR. OTHER THAN TAKE TAKE TAKE FROM IT YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF TALENT GOOD TO SEE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
this is beautious art to say the least! love it!
Magnificent. Thank you showing us some details of something I otherwise would not see, but am glad not to have missed.
Haunting….
what a unique idea, love the results … amazing!!!
“How to mess with archeologists of the future 101″.
Awesome stuff!
[...] Drowning Beautiful [...]
Unbelievable. So beautiful. I would definitely make the trip to see that.
Firstly, bravo on the art and the message. Here is art which both entertains and serves a purpose.
Secondly, to the so called enviromentalists out there talking about the damage this work is doing, do you really have a clue or are you just spouting off with words and phrases you heard on TV? EVERYTHING we do on this planet has an impact on the enviroment around us. By breathing, you are adding to the green house gasses. Even a vegan kills to live. Plants die, you live. The house you live in costs the enviroment trees, water, animals, and petrochemicals. If you lived in a cave eating nothing but nuts and berries you would still have a carbon footprint and also be damaging the ecosystem of the cave. What this man is doing will create more than it costs. If you had bothered to actually read what is on his website you would see that he uses concrete which is chosen for its ability to provide homes for both coral and other sea life. The artwork is placed where coral has been damaged by man and nature to help it recover. By atracting people to his art, he sends them away with more information about the enviroment than they had when they came. Information and awareness are the tools which build, ignorance and greed are those which destroy.
How amazing.
Thanks to the artist for sharing such wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful
work with the world. what amazing treasures these items become.
Love!
Outstanding and truly inspiring! Thank you Jason for your sensitive heart and mind!
I can just imagine the confusion of some archeologist 500-1000 years from now finding those and the story they would come up with.
this is stunning I know there are so many comments on this but i want to tell Jason that this is absolutely breathtaking. I would love to see these one day.
This makes me want to go scuba diving…gorgeous work.
One step closer to making Rapture! (Kudos if you get the reference)
It was an amazing idea and works of art. How some found it littering the ocean also amazes me.
This is absolutely amazing. He is helping rebuild coral reefs that all of you environmentalists have probably destroyed when you go scuba diving and are mal informed of how easily these reefs can be affected. Inform yourself before making agressive statements.
Also, his work is in Cancun, Mexico…..not part of south america.
[...] 2) And as a palate-cleanser, check this huge, beautiful artwork. [...]
Wow!! that is amazing to say the least
I wonder what they’ll think when they discover the art 5000 years from now? Awesomely beautiful!
This is a great piece of art!
It is thought that the first living organisms came from the sea…as well, some believe humans are, at this time, by extension, the culmination of those first organisms…returning a human image to ‘live’ in the sea and give anchor to life ‘of’ the sea brings life full circle and is quite a feat of imagination. Thank you and ‘BRAVO’!
very cool!!!….the “typewriter” looks like something from a TOOL video…..
Wish I’d be around for they day they’re discovered in the future with declarations of “The Earth was once inhabited by giants. Probably an alien life form too large to sustain itself.”
Love it!
If I would go diving and see this, I would freak out. I don`t find this captivating. I find this scary. Especially the one where they`re in a circle like some kind of cult. That is just scary.
Another comment to those who have called this littering or pollution. Sometimes when ships and boats are no longer usefull they will be intentionally sunk to provide coral and ocean life a place to form and live. I have also read about broken toilets beeing dumped into the water, not as pollution but because coral NEEDS things like this to form on. These sculptures are somewhat nicer than a big pile of broken toilets wouldn’t you say ? And to everyone else, please do not refer to the people who posted these comments as environmentalists, for they know not of what they speak.
Absolutely amazing. The vibrant colors of coral and other critters on the cement adds a whole new dimension to the art…
This is awesome . Thank you for a creative mind
Just imagine the thoughts that will go through the heads of people who discover this 100 years from now!!!
Brilliant work of art!
This is fantastic and amazing. How very cool it must be in person.
Imagine snorkeling and, without prior knowledge, discovering this awesome work of art and nature.
Thanks so much for sharing this… and thanks to the Artist.
This is from Jetlagged
Art for the scuba diving elite! Terrific! (sarcasm) We can form reefs from old tires, sunken (discarded) ships, old toilets, and now we can add crappy sculpture. I guess this is a good thing – at least the figurines are not on land where most of us would have look at them.
-jetlagged
i can see absolutely nothing creepy or frightening about this exhibition. Otherworldly perhaps, but that isn’t a bad thing. I would love to see it in person and see the aquatic life thriving on and around it. Bravo!
One of the most inspirational works I have ever seen.
Thank You.
this is beautiful!<3 The idea itself is incredible
me parece increible!! hermosas imagenes
To the person who said it’s just “littering for art,” these sculptures were actually put in place to help keep the natural reef alive. It’s not just for art, it’s to allow the sculptures to become reefs, themselves, which will take the burden off of the current reefs that are dying because they can’t keep up with the current level of pollution and usage.
It’s so eerie, yet beautiful. It reminds me of Pompeii.
So very, very beautiful!!!
Im found it an insult to the natural beauty ofmthe seas.
Very erie! Very good attention to detail! Definitely art!
Really cool and beautiful art !
Eerie. Beautiful. Genius.
Wonder what people who come across this in the future will think? Will they even recognize it? Will they still retain any likeness of their original form?
Will people think it’s something left or put there by aliens? Write all kinds of books and movies, etc. about it?
It bothers me. It truly bothers me. I appreciate art and artistic expression but I don’t feel the ocean was the place for this and looking at the photos..I didn’t feel anything was beautiful but rather sad and creepy. I can think of a lot better surroundings to place these statues.
im so awesome
amazing..!!
This is simply inspirational. I’ve never seen this done before, and its moving. All the cement people are completely different and sea life makes them even more unique. I’m utterly in love with this art and the artist. Job well done!!!!
I wonder what someone 500 years in the future is going to think about this!
human-arium!!!
Here are some quotes from the artist’s website, for those of you crying about environmental impact without even bothering to read about it:
“Only about 10 – 15% of the sea bed has a solid enough substratum to allow reefs to form naturally. In order to increase the number of reefs in these areas artificial reefs have recently been created from materials that are durable, secure and environmentally sensitive. These reefs appear to have been successful in that they have attracted coral growth which, in turn, can support an entire marine ecosystem.
One of the greatest benefits of artificial reefs is that they have lifted the pressure off natural reefs which, over the past few decades, have been over-fished and over-visited. By diverting attention to artificial reefs, natural reefs have now been given a greater chance to repair and to regenerate.”
“Each of the sculptures is made from specialized materials used to promote coral life….The Cancun Marine Park is one of the most visited stretches of water in the world with over 750,000 visitors each year, placing immense pressure on its resources. The location of the sculptures will promote the recovery of the natural reefs, relieving pressure on them by drawing visitors away.”
“Moiliniere Bay suffered considerable storm damage in recent years and the placement of an artificial structure has provided a new base for marine life to proliferate.”
“The cement finish and chemical composition of Vicissitudes actively promotes the colonisation of coral and marine life.”
“Located across an expansive underwater area the work draws marine life to an area that has suffered substantial decimation through sustained storm damage.”
“Its metal structure allows water currents to flow through the body of the sculpture creating an ideal habitat for filter feeding organisms.”
“The pots are propagated with live coral cuttings rescued from areas of the reef system damaged by storms and human activity. This technique, a well-established procedure in reef conservation, rescues damaged coral fragments by providing a suitable new substrate….Built into the base of the sculpture are specialized habitat spaces designed to encourage individual types of marine creatures such as moray eels, juvenile fish and lobsters.”
“The cement figure has 75 holes planted with live cuttings of fire coral (Millepora alcicorni ).This is a fast growing marine organism, yellow, orange and brown in colour which emits a painful stinging sensation when touched, thus reflecting its name and the title of the sculpture….The fire coral has been sourced from fragments damaged by human activity or by tropical storms. A small proportion has also been artificially grown.”
what the fuck is that if i was swimming under water i would be geekin out like a nukler dezaster happend
I wonder what the fish think of them?
Who pays for it? It cost a lot. Did the artist use his own money or mine? (taxpayer)
sorry to say….this is creepy
It’s gonna be crazy when someone finds out those are real bodies!!
fabulous! to do art because it is what you have to do…and have the patience to let it “become”. I am totally inspired to be more alive inside about what I make because I can see he is doing it from the heart!
Absolutely stunning. Love to Stumble upon something this awesome. This is what I would like to hear about on the news as opposed to the depressing sensationalism we usually get.
Haven’t we put enough litter in the ocean? Whatever happened to thinking in longs terms?
CREAR BELLEZA como ésta…es estar conectado con nuestro SER…con nuestra ESENCIA!
Beautiful. Hard to believe how many people are DESPERATE to find something wrong with 1. Using concrete. 2. Placing concrete in the sea. 3. Placing ANYthing manmade in the sea.
1. The manufacture of concrete is energy intensive, as are many products whose long service lives MORE than compensate for their initial energy costs. Aluminum is another example. And both are completely recyclable.
2. There is no negative environmental impact from placing concrete in water.
3. Really, please re-examine your false piety-for-nobility.
I think it is beyond beautiful! And useful! Its much more attractive than sinking old ships for creation of reefs.
Absolutely amazing. It’s beautiful in the most bizarre way. I’d love to see it in person someday :/
Magnificent! Makes me want to take up Scuba diving!
But does this confuse the sea life? I’m mean, maybe we shouldn’t mess with Mother Nature like this.
Very moving.
This is one of the most fantastic ideas for conceptual art I have ever seen. Created by man and embellished by nature. All my friends will see this. Thank you.
I love how vulnerable the “people” become after being submerged and later how sweetly they are transformed by the corals. It’s beautiful!
I thought this was great, and it promoted a lot of other thoughts. one of the thoughts I had was ” what will the future think when they see this? will they still remember the “gardens” full of clay samurai? will they some how assume a connection?
Does anyone else find this extremely disturbing? People in the water? That is freaky and creepy and not cool. The ocean is freaky enough without adding status. And the ones with the bodies lying down in the steam? Serious? wtf. If I was taking a walk at dusk or at night I would avoid that section entirely. I would avoid it in the day too. No I do not like this. It is not beautiful. The status themselves are, but as people have commented keep it above water. Ug. Remind me never to scuba-dive anywhere around there.
These are amazing. Think of thousands of years from now after humans are all extinct and the next intelligent life finds earth and then someday finds these. What a mystery they will be to them!
Sheesh, haters be silenced. This doesn’t defile the sacred ocean in any way. It’s providing some material for coral to grow on. It’s beneficial.
And it’s not conceited to make them in the shape of humans. The planet isn’t offended by the fact that artists recognize the existence of their species. I bet that any animal, given the ability to sculpt, would replicate its image as well. We are the subjects we know best.
I think this artwork is beautiful, haunting, and innovative.
Save the Republic, audit the fed
What a wonderful art work! Simply stunning! And we once thought that everything has alredy been made…
Although I find this attractive, I do not agree with having statues placed underwater for art. Don’t we do enough damage? The ocean is more breathtaking than human’s art will ever be. I don’t think this should be allowed. Let it be.
I love this work, it is evolving constantly and feeds the fish and the soul. Well done I was truly inspired and impressed with you work.
these are beautiful. its funny, people a thousand years from now are gonna wonder what the hell we did this for. lol
Beautiful but what will this do to the natural beauty of the water?
it’s really amazing… but i’ll be terrified if i found one of those by accident..
Wonderful! I rather doubt that future generations will “discover” these as human forms. They will be, by then, disintegrated….coral reefs… look at the disfiguration in a short time. So grab your scuba gear & get down there soon or enjoy the presentation as it is.
In 1000′s of years if the human race is almost wiped out, if they discover this in the future, they will think of something like Atlantis.
Exquisite horror. This work offers me unspeakable sadness.
I am so tired of reading comments from people who are so holier-than-thou that they’d actually correct someone on the proper use of the word “breathe” in an article like this. Can you say, “Missing the point?” I don’t see your writing published in any magazines. Written any books lately? Do you have a CAREER in writing? Who are you to judge?
GET.OVER.YOURSELF.
ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND UNUSUAL ART FORMS EVER!