Art
#installation #sculpture
Human Nature: Jason deCaires Taylor’s Submerged Figurative Sculptures Form Thriving Artificial Reefs
Artist Jason deCaires Taylor was born in Great Britain in 1974 and spent his youth diving the coral reefs of Malaysia where he developed a strong bond with the sea and nature, then as a teenager began a pursuit of art and graffiti. In an incredible marriage of his two passions, Taylor has since become famous for his immense underwater installations in locations off the coast of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the West Indies where he uses eco-friendly concrete sculptures specifically designed to harbor life. The artificial reefs are photographed and filmed in numerous stages from the moment they are first submerged to months and years later after thriving ecosystems form within his artwork.
This Saturday, Taylor will have his first debut solo gallery exhibition titled Human Nature at Jonathan leVine Gallery in New York. Via the gallery:
For this exhibition, the artist selected photographs of some of his major public projects. While some works were photographed as soon as they were submerged, others feature various stages of coral and algae growth that has occurred over a period of time. The resulting photography (much like the experience of viewing in person) evokes a sense of discovering forgotten civilizations, and surreal narratives of lost, sunken worlds.
The show opens June 30th at 7pm and runs through July 28th. If I was in New York I would absolutely not miss this. For some great behind-the-scenes photos, Jonathan leVine was lucky enough to visit Taylor in Mexico for one of the coolest “studio visits” I’ve ever seen.
#installation #sculpture
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