On January 28, the city of Cannes installed an underwater ecomuseum created by the renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Six statues were submerged near the shore of Île Saint-Marguerite. They will become artificial reefs for marine life and will be visible to the public while snorkeling.
Six residents of Cannes lent their features to the artist for this project whose theme relates to the mask. The result: faces two meters high, weighing about 10 tons each, which pay tribute to the Man in the Iron Mask who was imprisoned for 11 years on the island, as well as to the cinema industry, with Cannes becoming the capital of the 7th art each year during its festival.
The six faces were transported and then submerged south of the island, between 84 and 132 meters from the shore. Located between 3 and 5 meters deep, these sculptures will be easily accessible to the public, as the swimming area has been expanded to accommodate them. Thus, in this Natura 2000 classified area, no anchoring is allowed to facilitate public access but primarily to restore life to these previously degraded seabeds.
Beyond the recreational aspect, the works of the British artist are designed to evolve in the environment. Made from PH-neutral, eco-friendly materials, they aim to become artificial reefs, to be colonized by marine species and to raise public awareness about marine environment preservation. The implementation of this museum will be accompanied by regular ecological monitoring. Jason deCaires Taylor is not new to this: he is behind numerous underwater museums (Lanzarote, Thames, Bahamas, Cancun, Oslo, Grenada). This ecomuseum in Cannes is his first creation in France and the Mediterranean!
The mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, expressed his delight in this collaboration between the city and the internationally renowned artist: « What a joy it is to see the fruition of this magnificent project! Combining beauty and education, the underwater ecomuseum of Cannes symbolizes my commitment to two fundamental values: cultural necessity and environmental preservation. Jason deCaires Taylor’s work is powerful, artistic, and ecological, immersed in a precious environment where the seabed has been restored and is now protected. The portrayal of faces proposed by the artist, both poetic and serious, is an ode to the splendor of marine biodiversity and the responsibility to protect it. »https://vimeo.com/507877528
Opening photo © Jason deCaires Taylor