New Underwater Art Installation Unveiled at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi

WITH A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ECOCONSCIOUS TRAVELLERS FAIRMONT MALDIVES SIRRU FEN FUSHI HAS UNVEILED THE MALDIVES’ FIRST AND ONLY CORAL REGENERATION PROJECT.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has unveiled a series of new sculptures within the Coralarium - the Maldives’ first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an underwater art installation. Conceptualised by British environmentalist and eco-artist, Jason decaires Taylor, the abstract sculptures are inspired by the natural beauty of the coral reef and have been designed to imitate the ethereal formation of coral colonies.

Rising from ten, semi-submerged plinths within the Coralarium, the installation aims to raise awareness of the threatened ecosystem, educate guests about the underwater world and rehabilitate the reef. Rising from the sea into the sky, the tessellated sculptures act as a visual connector between the aquatic world, and the land.

Perched in the largest resort lagoon in the Maldives, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi plays home to an abundance of marine life, from manta rays and turtles to bottlenose dolphins and over 250 species of tropical fish. Now, guests can get even closer to nature, as they explore these sculptures and the verdant aquatic life that dwells amongst them, accompanied by a resident marine biologist, or as part of the property’s evening snorkelling tours.

The Coralarium structure, and the sculptures within, act as an artificial reef, encouraging marine life to make it home. Up to 5m tall, each one of the soaring sculptures is constructed of more than 500 ceramic ‘starfish’ that have been specifically designed to attract a variety of fish and crustaceans - the hard shells catch and hold biomass, or ‘fish food’, which encourage coral larvae to attach and thrive, while nooks and dark cubbyholes in the structures provide a hiding place for fish and shellfish. Each sculpture is brought to life through its union with the life that attaches to it, transforming them from concrete to textured, living organisms.

Strategically placed to lead snorkelers into various ‘zones’ of the Coralarium, the sculptures can be explored from a sea-scaped coral pathway, that leads from the 200m infinity pool at the heart of the island. Diving adventures and snorkelling sessions with the marine biologist showcase Fairmont Maldives’ best diving spots, right at the five-mile-long house reef, home to many manta ray cleaning stations. Those inspired by Taylor’s installation can even create their own marineinspired masterpiece in the on-site art studio, or plant their own coral, which they can see flourish as they revisit in years to come.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is an idyllic island paradise dedicated to educating the next generation of eco-conscious travellers. With the coral regeneration project, educational exploration of the coral reef, in-house marine biologists, a water distillery and, in early 2020, the installation of solar panels, the resort strives to protect and restore the wellbeing of local ecosystems.