Largest group of life-size statues underwater
Who
Jason deCaires Taylor, Jason deCaires Taylor
Where
Mexico (National Marine Park)
When
2012

The sculptural ensemble "The Silent Evolution" by British-born artist Jason deCaires Taylor consists of 400 life-size statues placed in the underwater National Marine Park of Punta Cancún, Isla de Mujeres and Punta Nizuc in Mexico. Completed in 2012, the statues – cast from a cross-section of local Mexican people – sit 8 m below the surface, and help to promote the recovery of nearby natural reefs. Over the 18-month construction period, the work required 120 tons of cement, sand and gravel, 3,800 m of fibreglass and 400 kg of silicon. Besides working for over 120 hours underwater and suffering bites from Damsel fish, the sculpting team doing preparation work close to mangroves in Puerto Morelos received more than 2,500 mosquito bites, tabano bites and fire ant stings. Weighing at least 120 tons, the final sculpture cost US$250,000. According to deCaires Taylor, the installation is not yet finished, its future being "dependent on nature's artists of the sea, to nurture, evolve and apply the patina of life".