British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor's latest sculptures to join the hundreds of others in the magnificent underwater museum called MUSA (Museo Subacutico de Arte) around Cancun includes this gorgeous one called Phoenix.
Constructed from cement, stainless steel coral, and wings made with living purple gorgonian fan coral, it is the very first kinetic sculpture in the MUSA collection. The wings moves back and forth underwater filtering nutrients from the water column. “The fan coral which is often naturally uprooted and dislodged from strong storms and waves was rescued and replanted from imperiled fragments found on nearby sand areas,” says Taylor. “The sculpture is orientated into the prevailing current and the wings of the Phoenix appear to beat with the natural cycle of the waves.”