The Raft of Lampedusa 2019

A harrowing depiction of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, referencing the famous French Romantic painter Théodore Géricault work: The Raft of the Medusa, draws parallels between the abandonment suffered by passengers in his shipwreck scene and the current refugee crisis, the work aims to immortalize this human catastrophe in a physical form, a spotlight on a critical moment in our history.
Migration by boat from Africa to Europe via the Canary Islands has been imbedded in the history of the islands for many years and has been described as a gateway to Europe. Many of the life-models cast for the work are West African migrants who have resettled and started new lives in the Canary Islands. The boat or "patera" as it is locally known, was modeled from a type of vessel that has frequently landed on local coastlines. 
The work is intended to be stark reminder that at the end of the day we are all immigrants in one-way or another.

Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.

Jason deCaires Taylor

United Kingdom

https://underwatersculpture.com/

Jason deCaires Taylor MRSS (b.1974) is an award winning sculptor, environmentalist and professional underwater photographer. For the past 17 years, Taylor has been creating underwater museums and sculpture parks beneath the waves, submerging over 1,200 living artworks throughout the world’s oceans and seas. Themes explored by these artistic installations include, among others, the climate emergency, environmental activism, and the regenerative attributes of nature. The sculptures create a habitat for marine life whilst illustrating humanity’s fragility and its relationship with the marine world. Taylor’s subjects mainly feature members of the local community, focussing on their connections with their own coastal environments.