Dive, snorkel and swim through this new underwater sculpture trail
We may think of a day at the museum as a relaxing couple of hours spent strolling through galleries, but what if we told you that there’s a unique Queensland museum that requires you to dig a little deeper? Underneath the ocean, to be specific. This Ariel-approved gallery is called the Museum of Underwater Art, and it recently gained a new exhibition, which melds real-life figures with big-blue artefacts.
For those not in the know, allow us to do a quick explainer. The Museum of Underwater Art (MoUA) is a permanent museum that showcases fully and partially submerged works across multiple unique sites along the Queensland coast – from Townsville all the way up to John Brewer Reef. Its newest installation, Ocean Sentinels, was unveiled in May, and is a captivating series of underwater sculptures by artist Jason deCaires Taylor. There are eight sculptures in total, with each piece showcasing a renowned marine scientist or conservationist (you can read all about them here), highlighting their significant contributions to reef protection. The sculptures are a unique blend of human figures and marine elements, with each figure’s marine forms that surround them representing their particular field of study and expertise (like shells, coral and mangrove-tree roots). Crafted from a sustainable and resilient earth-friendly concrete, the artworks are designed with a low centre of gravity to withstand the powerful forces of the ocean. In other words, these bad boys aren’t going anywhere. The sculptures will also become a living, breathing part of the reef too, as their surfaces are intentionally designed to attract marine life like coral, sponges and hydroids.
Ocean Sentinels joins the museum’s other breathtaking works including Ocean Siren, a 15-foot sculpture perched off the coast of Townsville, and Coral Greenhouse, an underwater greenhouse filled with more than 2000 coral fragments and 20 sculptures or ‘reef guardians’ made from non-toxic marine-grade cement. Ocean Sentinels is located a short swim from the Coral Greenhouse site at John Brewer Reef, which is located approximately 80-km from Townsville (approximately two hours by boat). All of the artworks aim to create an educational and informative introduction to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, celebrating its rich history, connection to some of the world’s leading marine science institutions and its strong links to Indigenous cultures and traditions. Scuba divers, free-divers and snorkelers of all experience levels are welcome at the museum, which is free to explore. If you’re looking for some expert guidance through the underwater gallery, there are plenty of tour boats that you can hop onto.
Keen to see these enchanting underwater artworks in real life? Learn more about this beautiful ocean art trail and how you can dive right in at the Museum of Underwater Art website.
Image credit: Museum of Underwater Art
