Submerged Art Gallery in Marseille
Europe's First Underwater Museum Opens in Marseille
After a brief delay due to legal challenges, Europe's first underwater museum, the Musée Subaquatique de Marseille (MSM), was inaugurated in 2020 and is now located about 100 meters offshore from Plage des Catalans at a depth of 5 meters.
The museum, initiated by the Association des Amis du Musée Subaquatique de Marseille in 2020, features 11 ecological sculptures by renowned French artists, primarily from the Marseille region. These sculptures interact with the marine environment to raise awareness about marine biodiversity and the fragility of underwater ecosystems.
The museum was the brainchild of Antony Lacanaud, who envisioned an immersive artistic and environmental experience combining art and nature. The sculptures are designed to be durable and sustainable, creating a unique habitat where marine life and flora intertwine with the artworks. This underwater museum is accessible to snorkelers and recreational divers of all levels, enabling direct sensory engagement with the art beneath the sea.
Some artistic highlights include Thierry Trives’s sculpture titled "Résilience", which has been submerged for over four years and continues to fascinate visitors and photographers.
The project faced a setback when a ruling by the Marseille Administrative Court in April 2019 caused a delay. The delay was due to concerns about potential collisions with boats and drowning risks. However, after making necessary adjustments, the project was finally inaugurated.
This project represents a novel form of artistic expression and ecological advocacy unique in Europe, merging local artistic talent with marine conservation goals. While the precise technical difficulties of creation and installation are not detailed explicitly, underwater sculpture projects typically face issues such as materials needing to withstand seawater corrosion, ensuring installation stability on the seabed, and ecological considerations to not disrupt local marine life. The MSM emphasizes ecological harmony, implying that significant effort went into designing sculptures that promote environmental sustainability rather than cause harm.
References:
[1] Musée Subaquatique de Marseille. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.musees-marseille.fr/en/museums/musee-subaquatique-de-marseille
[2] The Underwater Museum of Art. (2021, April 12). Retrieved from https://www.theunderwatermuseumofart.com/
[3] BBC News. (2020, July 10). Marseille's underwater art museum opens to the public. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53344597
In contrast to Europe's First Underwater Museum, one could envision a lifestyle that incorporates outdoor-living and home-and-garden elements, such as a garden sculpture exhibition beneath the waves, promoting marine biodiversity and outdoor art appreciation. This unique home-and-garden concept could stimulate awareness about the fragility of underwater ecosystems, just as the Musée Subaquatique de Marseille does, while also offering an immersive and sensory experience for visitors.
