The Moliniere Underwater Sculpture Park, the Jason deCaires Taylor-designed gem in the waters off the coast of Grenada, is expanding.
The park has unveiled 31 new sculptures to be added to the park, a place that has become a symbol of art, conservation and cultural pride in Grenada and one of the region’s top diving and snorkeling destinations.
Taylor contributed 25 of the new sculptures, in a collection called “The Coral Carnival.”
“The collection is steeply connected to the island’s unique culture and heritage, which includes sculpted pieces of the Jab Jab, Vieux Corps, Pretty Mas, Shortknee, and Wild Indian. What makes this installation especially unique is the painting of the sculptures that reflects the vibrancy of Spicemas, which is a first for me in this terrain.”
Taylor also created two replacement sculptures, “The Lost Correspondent” and “The Unstill Life,” for the underwater gallery.
“We are all happy to witness the culmination of this project, which is a demonstration of creativity and originality in our tourism industry and shows the continuous evolution in the quality of the products available to our visitors,” said Grenada Tourism Minister Lennox Andrews. “As a result of this expansion project, we expect to attract more attention to our shores and to our marine environment in the coming years.”
Four of the new sculptures were created by Grenadian artist Troy Lewis: La Diablesse, Mama Glo, Bélé Dancer and Leatherback Turtle, two of which were inspired by a local design competition run by the Grenada Tourism Authority.
All of the sculptures will be on display at Prickly Bay Marina in Grenda as they wait their underwater immersion in October 2023.
“This is a proud moment for Grenadians, as we can now boast of our Carnival and Folklore characters underwater,” said Randall Dolland , chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority. “Upon successful installation, we anticipate increased social media attention surrounding the new additions, enticing visitors to experience these new cultural pieces. It is a great time to start exporting our culture. Additionally, the sculptures are a testament to our commitment to marine sustainability and the growth of corals and underwater life in our marine protected areas.”
For more, visit Grenada.