The Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa (MUSAN) is the latest underwater museum to launch, opening to the public on August 2 off the coast of Pernera beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
MUSAN features a collection of 93 artworks by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, who built the world’s first underwater sculpture park in 2006 in the Caribbean Sea.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ayia Napa Mayor Christos Zannettou said MUSAN “contains many symbolisms about the alienation of humans from the environment, the relationship between different generations and climate change”.
Sculptures at Pernera beach in Ayia Napa
“I’m proud that in the sculptures there are two young Cypriots, which we are revealing today, and which will always be here to mark the museum’s location,” he added.
“We believed that with this unique diving museum visitors will be able to enjoy an underwater oasis, which can improve our visitors’ experience while offering a new opportunity to include this destination in our preferences and explorations.”
Zannettou said the €1m submerged attraction “marks a new beginning for our country” as it “enriches our tourist product and is now part of our national treasures”.
MUSAN is the result of a collaboration between Cyprus’ Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the Ayia Napa Munipality and the Ministry of Tourism.
93 artworks by Jason deCaires Taylor
“I firmly believe that Jason’s 93 artworks will be a haven for many sea creatures and will contribute to the development of biodiversity in the area,” said Marina Argyrou, director of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research.
“The underwater museum will be a living visual and ecological experience, with works of art interacting with nature and evolving over time and I’m certain it will bring people closer to the marine environment and the conservation and protection of our marine ecosystem.”
Opened in 2016, Taylor also created Museo Atlántico, the first underwater sculpture park in Europe, as well as Mexico’s Museo Subacuático de Arte in Cancún, launched in 2009.
Images: MUSAN
