Europe’s First Underwater Sculpture Museum

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s Museo Atlantico, off Lanzarote, is peopled with concrete casts of refugees and people taking selfies.

The Raft of Lampedusa, Jason deCaires Taylor’s modern-day concrete echo of Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa. The work has particular significance given the huge movement of refugees across the sea to Europe – and the frequent fatalities that result. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

One of the sculptures being lowered into the Atlantic off the coast of Lanzarote. (Photo by Cat Vinton)

Divers ensure the sculpture makes a safe descent. (Photo by Cat Vinton)

Sculptures that form part of the Rubicon installation are seen on land in Lanzarote. The final piece features a fence that the figures walk towards. The piece is about the dangers of climate change and the fence marks a point of no return – the figures walk towards it looking at mobile phones and not paying attention. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

The Raft of Lampedusa, outside Taylor’s studio. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

Taylor casts one of the figures for The Raft of Lampedusa. The model was a migrant from Senegal and now lives in Lampedusa. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

More sculptures being submerged. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

The Rubicon: the figures in place on the seabed. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

A figure from the Rubicon. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

This cactus figure is a reference to the flora and fauna of Lanzarote. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

The Raft of Lampedusa being lowered with the aid of air-filled balloons. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)

A close-up of the figures on The Raft of Lampedusa. (Photo by Jason deCaires Taylor)