Prepare the first underwater museum in Europe – The Patagonian

Lanzarote joins the innovation of the museums under the water, that decorate the seas of all the world. In Egypt you can visit the submerged city of Cleopatra, full of treasures of the best days of the empire of the Nile. DeCaires, the author of the sculptures of Lanzarote, also has figures marine in the background of the mexican Caribbean, and on the island of Grenada, a small country in the Lesser Antilles.

The Museo Atlántico Lanzarote opened its doors to the world by becoming the first art museum submarine of Europe. The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, and the creator of the monumental artistic ensemble, the ecoescultor british Jason deCaires, were responsible for the traditional cutting of the ribbon, in this case, with the particularity to be under the sea, launching a message of hope for the Big Blue. “I hope the Museum will Atlantic of Lanzarote constitutes a portal to another world and foster a better understanding of the precious marine environment and of our ultimate dependence upon him”, pointed out both from the sea bed of the bay of Las Coloradas, while authorities, guests and media shared in direct the historical moment from a boat on the surface.

The creation of this monumental project lasted over two years and aims to create a strong visual dialogue between art and nature. Designed with a focus on conservation to create an artificial reef on a large scale, the first works, which were installed in February of 2016, have already seen a significant increase in the generation rate and abundance of species, and are already frequented by angel shark, shoals of barracudas, sardines, octopus, marine sponges and the occasional stripe butterfly.

This is the first time that deCaires installs architectural structures so large. The new facilities include a wall of 100 tons and 30 meters in length; the sculpture in a botanical garden, referencing the local flora and fauna, and a composition of 200 human figures at actual size, that form a swirl human.

The museum, which occupies an area of 50×50 meters of sandy seabed devoid of life, is built with materials pH neutral and respectful of the environment, and all the pieces have been designed to adapt to marine life endemic.

The project has been promoted by the Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, whose network is incorporated. Has had, in addition, with co-financing from the Government of the Canary islands.

The minister of Culture and Tourism of the Government of the Canary islands, María Teresa Lorenzo, attended the act of sinking, and placement of the first sculptures in this museum, which is expected to be able to begin to visit by swimming or diving from march, although it will be completed this summer. The 2% of the income generated by the museum will be dedicated to the research and dissemination of the wealth of species and the seabed of Lanzarote.

once completed and washed, the sculptures are immersed to a depth of not less than 12 feet nor more than 15, which allows the museum to be visited by divers of all levels, and that, even, is visible on certain days from the surface. It is estimated that the works can survive up to 300 years submerged.

The museum includes an input and an output, and the parts are arranged in a sequence of 12 facilities.