Unveiling the world’s first underwater art sculpture park
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The world’s first underwater sculpture park has been unveiled off the coast of Cyprus. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The sunken forest by the Museum of Underwater Sculpture in Cyprus (MUSAN) was created by Jason deCaires Taylor, and cost roughly $1.6million to bring to life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incredible park is made up of 93 sculptures: some of which weigh up to 13 tonnes. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With his newest installation, Jason aims to put the spotlight on "rewilding our natural spaces" and "reforesting areas of barren habitat" through the complicated relationship between people and nature. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason spoke with CNN Travel, and said the installation was inspired by issues the world is currently facing. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I tried to incorporate as many references to climate change and habitat loss and pollution as I could, because those are really the defining issues of our era."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, "I'm kind of hoping that it leaves the visitor with a sense of hope along with a sense that the human impact isn't always negative. That we can reverse some of the things we've done.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each of the sculptures was lowered below the surface by cranes, and were placed at such a depth so that the areas may be “enriched” over time by their presence. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MUSAN is accessible to divers and snorkellers, and Jason hopes that it will bring more visitors to the marine protected area of Cyprus, which he describes as having "some of the best visibility I've ever been in."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jason is currently working on new installations for Australia's Museum of Underwater Art in Townsville, and northern Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef, which has lost half of its corals over the past two decades.</span></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @jasondecairestaylor</span></em></p>
