Anthropocene; by Jason deCaire Taylor, in Isla Mujeres
Updated: Jul 20, 2022
While diving in the Manchones National Park near Isla Mujeres, divers will see the sad image of a small child, curled up alone on the bonnet of a Volkswagon. This statue is placed away from the other statues in MUSA. What is the story behind this statue?
Jason deCaires Taylor states that:
"Anthropocene is a cast of a VW Beetle with a mourning child on the windshield. The piece asks about what we are leaving to future generations. The nine-tonne sculpture is also specially designed to create a habitat for crustaceans such as lobsters and its thick concrete walls prevent them from being extracted by local fisherman´s hooked barbs". (1)
The insides of this Volkswagon have become home for many marine animals, safe from the predatory behavior of humans. It is a sad message that the statue conveys and leaves many questioning the meaning behind the child when they first see the statue
Depth
9 meters / 30 feet
Experience Level
Entry Level, Beginners, and all levels of certified divers
Average Visibility Underwater
20-30 mt / 66-99 feet
Average Water Temp
28 C°/ 82F°
To view the fish surveyed here with reef.org click HERE
M.U.S.A. Museo Subacuático de Arte. (2022, April 25). Underwater Sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor. https://www.underwatersculpture.com/projects/musa-mexico/
Bhatt, C. (2021, February 18). Museum Spotlight: Cancun’s Underwater Museum of Art. Arts Help. https://www.artshelp.net/museum-spotlight-cancuns-underwater-museum-of-art/