For about fifteen years, the British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has initiated the emergence of underwater museums around the world. These collections of artworks, usually installed at shallow depth, not only allow the admiration of the sculpture but also convey a strong message of environmental preservation.
Destination 2: In Cannes – The Bay of Masks
In late January, six stylized faces of Cannes locals, created by Jason deCaires Taylor, were submerged at a depth of 3 to 5 meters, 84 and 132 meters from the Lérins Islands. This project, representing the first underwater eco-museum in France and the Mediterranean, required a budget of about €315,000, of which €60,000 came from private sponsorships.
A depolluted and renovated site
Previously, the sandy bottom, which housed an electrical cable since 1992, was cluttered with macro debris such as boat engines and stoves. Thanks to a cleaning in October 2019, six ten-ton monoliths measuring two meters in height now rest on this site, molded from local Cannes models, representing iconic figures of the region. This site, classified as a Natura 2000 zone, offers free access to swimming, delimited by yellow buoys and protected by an anchoring ban.
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