JASON DECAIRES TAYLOR recognised for his outstanding contribution
The world’s first underwater sculpture park in Molinere Bay, Grenada
WORLD-RENOWNED SCULPTOR Jason deCaires Taylor has been specially recognised by the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) for his outstanding work in creating the world’s first underwater sculpture Park in the island.
Between 2006 and 2009, Taylor founded the park in Grenada, which was listed as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National
Geographic. His concrete sculptures, based on people, history and folklore, eventually become alive by supporting the sustainable growth of the colorful reefs in Molinere Bay.
Subsequently, this park became a marine protected area, a decision taken by the government of Grenada, who pledged to preserve 20 per cent of the country’s coastal waters. The Sculpture Park includes art installations such as ‘Vicissitudes’ (famously known as the ‘Circle of Children’), ‘Grace Reef’, the ‘Lost Correspondent’ and the ‘Unstill Life’, to name a few.
As a gesture of gratitude to Taylor for his work, the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) hosted a dinner with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation, the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, the Grenada Scuba Divers Association, the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Management Inc, and the Grenada Arts Council. At the dinner, Taylor was presented with a special nutmegdesigned award for his contribution to the destination’s unique selling points.
At the Sculpture Park, visitors are taken to the area by local tour operators and they can either sail, snorkel or dive to experience this stunning and unique experience. TripExpert have rated this experience as the number one attraction in Grenada in 2019, based on online reviews, searches and clicks.
Taylor is famous for integrating contemporary art into conservation with marine life. He has continued his artwork in Mexico, The Bahamas and in Spain. He travels all over the world for his work, and he is currently engaged on a project in Australia.
Tourism stakeholders in Grenada have continued his good work with additional sculptures such as the ‘Nutmeg Princess’ and the ‘Selfie Statue’. The GTA hosted a competition in 2018 to encourage local talent to create new sculptures. The winning submission, dubbed ‘Wet Fete’, includes the Carnival characters Shakespeare Mas, Wild Indian, Jab Jab, Shortknee and Vieux Corps. The plan is to add these sculptures to the underwater Sculpture Park in the coming years.