A unique sculpture gallery with an equally unique goal is emerging on the Caribbean seafloor: housing corals that are endangered by tourism and climate change.
The 25 sculptures that Hugo Osorio and Pedro Fuentes have so far produced create an artificial reef-like structure in the azure waters surrounding the idyllic Isla Fuerte, located off the coast of Colombia.
They are dispersed across the seafloor at a depth of roughly six meters, standing 1.5 meters (almost five feet) tall and drawing predominantly fish but also divers.
Since 2018, the statues have been there as part of the MUSZIF initiative, which was founded by island resident and fashion designer Tatiana Orrego.
The plan is for another 25 to follow.
“When I discovered the deterioration of the island’s natural reefs, I saw in the art project a possibility to protect and enhance the life of corals,” Orrego told AFP.
Orrego had seeded the clay sculptures with baby corals, and watched as they took off.
The statues are the “ideal substrate” for the marine invertebrates to grow on, added the creator of Colombia’s first underwater art gallery.
