WHERE LAND, SEA & ART COLLIDE

The Sculpture Coralarium is situated in the centre of the largest developed coral lagoon in the Maldives, on the island resort of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi. The artwork created by renowned environmental sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor is a semi-submerged tidal gallery space that exhibits a series of sculptural artworks on the skyline, inter-tidal waterline and seabed. The work aims to create a direct pathway to the ocean.

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor

A long swimming pool transects the island and denotes the starting point. The art installation begins by following this line into the clear shallow waters of the sea where an underwater coral pavement begins. Sea-scaped with underwater poplar trees and endemic planted corals it heads 100m through the shallows towards the underwater realm, a symbolic pathway to another world and the starting point of the artistic intervention. After a 50m snorkel/swim you encounter a submerged staircase which leads up towards a semi submerged tidal building. The building is cube shaped, six metres tall, with its front facade submerged up to median tide of three metres. The design of the walls is based on natural coral structures and is porous to allow the tides, current and marine life to pass through it and the structure to “breathe” within its location.

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor

The complex structural formation is designed to dissipate oceanic forces whilst creating a protective space that encourages nature to colonise and seek refuge. The construction, using high grade, polished, marine stainless steel aims to reflect and mirror the surrounding blues of the coral atoll and the sky above. A mirage on the horizon, that over time will take on the patina of the sea as it becomes colonised by algae and weathers within the environment. The roof of the building houses a series of black silhouetted sculptures that connect both the sky above and the sea below, occupying a space between worlds.

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor

The entrance of the building is situated above water and leads into a dry elevated viewing platform. The square gallery space exhibits a further 14 sculptures on plinths at various heights within the water column, some works completely submerged, others high above the water line, with the majority mid water interacting with both the marine and terrestrial world depending on the tidal level. The roof is perforated with a coral pattern to allow beams of light to illuminate the individual works and a series of submerged lights to illuminate the space during the night. The sculptures themselves are hybrid forms, part-human, part-plant, part-coral. The organic forms are based on endemic species of the island and its surrounding reefs; banyan trees, screw pines, strangler ivy, mushroom and staghorn corals. Many of the works feature root systems, symbolic of the dependence of humans on the natural environment a connection to place.

White calcium coral skeletons, formed of bones ingrained into the surface of works, aims to show how the reef is part of the Maldivian DNA. Leaves on the base of the plinths will provide additional marine habitat space. The underwater realm of the installation includes a series of children looking up towards the surface of the sea posing questions about the threat of climate change and sea levels rising and the consequences for future generations. Overall the installation aims to draw all the elements of life on earth together, to portray a system where all components are dependant on each other, humans and the environment in coexistence, a levelling of relationships. The Coralarium becomes a portal or interface to the wonders of the underwater world.

Access to the Coralarium with be through guided tours in small groups lead by the resort’s resident marine biologists and are available several times a day.

CORALARIUM FACTS

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor

• World’s first semi-submerged art gallery
• Maldives first underwater museum
• 180 tons of architectural elements
• 66 marine grade stainless steel panels
• 432 sqm of laser cut stainless steel
• 10 hybrid-organic sculptures on plinths
• 6 fully submerged sculptures on the seafloor
• 6 rooftop sculptures
• 6 fully submerged popular trees seaming coral pathway
• Coral pathway with over 60 coral flower pots growing over 200 cuttings of staghorn coral
• Local design inspirations: Strangler Ivy, Banyan Tree roots, Mushroom Coral, Staghorn coral, Gorgonian Fan coral, bread fruit
• 5 months of installation period on the island

HOW TO GET THERE

Shaviyani Atoll, North Maldives. Reachable by scenic seaplane transfer, 55 minutes from Velana International Airport, alternatively transfers can be arranged via domestic flight to Hanimaadhoo Airport followed by speedboat transfer to the island.

For more information about the museum –

Email: underwatermuseum.maldives@fairmont.com

Website: www.fairmont-maldives.com

For more information about the works of underwater naturalist and artist Jason deCaires Taylor, please visit: www.underwatersculpture.com