Within the gorgeous ocean waters of Australia is the Great Barrier Reef. One of the world’s seven wonders, it is longer than the Great Wall of China and is even visible from space! Not to mention, it houses more than 3,000 “reef systems” that serve as homes to all kinds of marine life.
Now, it has another type of beauty! The Museum of Underwater Art in Queensland features several masterful installations that serve as a fun tourist attraction – and a place for underwater creatures to grow and thrive!
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The largest of them is a 40-foot structure called the “Coral Greenhouse.” The 64-ton piece is “comprised of about 500 steel and concrete parts” and was created by Jason deCaires Taylor, an incredible underwater sculptor.
Jason based the design on a laboratory to celebrate marine biologists and the reef itself.
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“When we talk about reefs, we’re very much talking about what we’re leaving for younger generations,” he said.
I also wanted to encourage more youth into marine science and into exploring and understanding the underwater world. Plus, I wanted the local communities – school students, especially – to become ambassadors for the reef, almost like guardians with a keen interest in how it evolves.
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The lab’s not just for show. Waterproof cameras help researchers monitor the health of the water and coral nearby.
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This underwater museum is breathtaking, and luckily for us, it’s not the first of its kind!
In fact, Jason has created numerous sculptures for different underwater museums, all of which are designed to help their environment. While his previous projects have been used to move tourists away from reefs to help preserve them, that’s not the case for the MOUA.
“This project was about drawing people out to the reef to showcase how it is still in fantastic condition and has some of the most amazing corals in the world,” he said.
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One piece in this collection isn’t beneath the ocean waves. Jason designed “Ocean Siren” to change color based on reef temperatures.
“The model, Takoda Johnson, is a local indigenous girl from the Wulgurukaba tribe,” he explained. “She looks out on the land of her great grandfather.”
Not only that, but she also encourages the local community to stay informed and get involved!
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These pieces are stunning! What a fantastic way to bring beauty into the world – and encourage everyone to take care of our environment.
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