Ocean Dwellers saving the world
JASON DECAIRES TAYLOR
and the procession of spicemas sculptures
The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park in the Caribbean was a revolutionary idea in 2006. The world was coming to terms with decades of pollution and the changing climate. The fragility of reefs was of great concern to ocean lovers everywhere, particularly in Grenada.
Artist Jason deCaires Taylor had a brilliant idea. Create an art gallery underwater to divert divers away from the fragile eco systems BUT make the man made works of art into sustainable reefs themselves, by using material that would sustain and encourage sea life to thrive. Nearly twenty years later and Jason deCaires Taylor has travelled the world successfully creating stunning underwater sculptural parks that are living, changing works of art, while allowing nearby natural reefs to recover. The sculptures are as powerful as the day he dropped them into the blue deep. Now covered in coral, humanity melds with oceanography in startling beauty.
Fast forward to 2023 and Jason deCaires Taylor has returned to his sculpture park in Grenada where it all started, and expanded his procession to include figures from the local Spicemas carnival that celebrate island culture.
Spicemas Carnival in full swing © Spicemascarnival
Jason deCaires Taylor describes the underwater procession inspired by Spicemas, “Vieux Corps (known locally as Vecko) typically feature tall pointed hats, wooden shoes, and full-length cloaks made from black, red or purple cloth. Their faces, concealed with wire mesh masks, symbolise the loss of identity endured through slavery. Boots are fitted with large wooden soles to create a loud noise as they stomp through towns and villages. In these underwater creations the traditional masks and cloaks are customised with a variety of organic pigments such as squid ink, cochineal and turmeric on a calcium carbonate base.”
The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park ©Jason DeCaires Taylor
“The Wild Indian character originates from the Amerindian heritage of immigrants from South America. Each character dressed in colourful clothing includes a short skirt, a tall feathered head dress, and beaded jewellery. Their faces and bodies are hand-painted to include traditional details.”
The Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park @Jason DeCaires Taylor
“Jab Jab has been one of the main characters in Grenada's cultural festivities for many years and is unique to the island. Although the name translates to "double devil," the masqueraders are not the devils themselves or related to demonic culture. Instead, they are satirising the thoughts and actions of slave masters from the past. Local artists sculpted traditional elements for each Jab Jab to carry - serpents, animal skulls, and dead fish - then painted the sculptures with organic black squid ink pigment to represent the molasses or engine oil that masqueraders traditionally cover their bodies in during Spicemas.”
Spicemas Carnival in full swing © Spicemascarnival
The sculptures after the sea has taken them back and worked on them are mesmerising. Some of these photographs have taken as long as ten years for Jason deCaires Taylor to capture. Nature is a slow but sure footed creative partner. The health of the reef is reflected in the vibrancy of the colours in the coral.
Image ©Jason DeCaires Taylor
During his creative process, deCaires Taylor sculpts a maquette, a small precise version of what will become the lifesize sculpture. A lucky few have the opportunity to collect one of these limited pieces of aquatic history. Every purchase helps support the important work to save reefs all over the world.
It’s a win win.
Put an underwater sculpture on your mantel, knowing that somewhere in the world, deCaires Taylor is placing another underwater sculpture to sustain and support our precious coral reefs. What could be more positive or artful.
If you would like to see more of Jason deCaires Taylor’s amazing work, you can find him on the pages of the Lab Mag’s edition BUILD
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