Jason deCaires Taylor is an artist from Kent, England, specializing in underwater sculptures. His recent creation submerged in the Caribbean features 25 life-sized cast sculptures of Grenadan locals, an installation he dubbed "Coral Carnival."
According to Taylor, the artwork was inspired by an annual carnival in Grenada called "Spicemas," famous for its vibrant costumes and celebrated as a tribute to the islands' spice production. Taylor told the BBC that his new works have been decorated with "natural pigments like squid ink and turmeric," as a reference to the lively colors present in the annual carnival.
Each of the sculptures was molded using high-grade stainless steel material mixed with pH-neutral cement suitable for algae growth. Afterward, the cast sculptures are furnished with varying jewels, sequin fabrics, and feathers, before they are all brought to the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park located 9.8 feet below the surface.
Why Does Jason deCaires Taylor Make His Sculptures?
In 1993, Taylor studied at the Camberwell College of Arts Institute in London for a degree in "Sculpture and Ceramics," spending most of his time creating outdoor art in varying inner-city landscapes.
From there, he was inspired by how his works would transform depending on the environment that it is surrounded with, and eventually, Taylor started to submerge his sculptures underwater because of these observations.
One of the artist's earlier oceanic projects was done after the humongous "Hurricane Ivan" had devastated the Cape Verde area, leaving behind a wake of destruction along the Caribbean and the United States. Taylor had seen the damage sustained by the coral reefs and wanted to do something positive using his talents.
By fashioning sculptures out of casts of different people using ocean-appropriate materials, he was able to not only draw in more tourists to the area but also help propagate sea life using his sculptures.
Similarly, this is what Randall Dolland, chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority, hopes to achieve with Taylor's new "Coral Festival" installment, saying in a statement that, "This expansion not only enhances the visitor experience but also deepens our connection to the rich cultural tapestry of our nation."
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