FIRST UNDERWATER SCULPTURE IN JAPAN SPEAKS TO REBIRTH AND RENEWAL

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor is visiting Japan for the first time with his underwater artwork. Off the island of Tokunoshima, Ocean Gaia, which is over 16.5 feet below the surface, represents rebirth and the connection between people and the ocean. It is the first underwater sculpture in Japan and acts as a catalyst for the rebirth of ecosystems in addition to being a piece of art.

In Ocean Gaia, deCaires Taylor uses the well-known Japanese model Kiko Mizuhara to represent the mother force of the ocean. She cradles her pregnant tummy while lying on what looks to be sand that has been shifted by the tides of the ocean. Despite the sculpture's weight of more than forty-five tons, the artist has managed to make it seem serene and light.

The sculpture's perforated edges enable it to become an essential component of the reef by creating new habitats for marine life. The location of the sculpture itself makes the idea of rebirth and cyclical nature significant. Tokunoshima is renowned for its remarkable number of centenarians as well as its high birth rate. Young people in the neighbourhood have recently abandoned the island in favour of the metropolis, yet this sculpture serves as a metaphorical appeal to return.