AccorHotels’ first and only Fairmont Resort in the Maldives launches the world’s first semi-submerged art gallery, created by renowned underwater naturalist and artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Situated around the pristine atoll where Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is the sole hotel, the sculpture Coralarium is a semi-submerged tidal gallery space that exhibits a series of sculptural artworks on the skyline. Homage to the abundant sea life and pristine coral house reef surrounding this world-class resort, this is the Maldives’ first and only coral regeneration project in the form of an Underwater Art Installation.
With his large following and international influence in media and environmental conservation, Jason deCaires Taylor’s collaboration with Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi creates an ideal global platform to showcase the fragile beauty of the Maldives and our oceans.
Taylor says, “Over the years I have realized that the really humbling thing about what we do is that once we submerge the sculptures they’re not ours anymore. As soon as we sink them, they belong to the sea and nature takes over. The Coralarium is a place of preservation, conservation and education. Together with the resort we hope to raise awareness for the protection of Maldivian coral reefs. I want to see a better future for the ocean, for people to see it as a delicate place, worthy of our protection.”
Both AccorHotels and the Fairmont brand have a strong reputation globally for sustainable tourism and are committed to improving the well-being of local communities and ecosystems wherever they operate and addressing the environmental impacts of their operations. Fairmont is renowned for capturing the heart of a destination through community engagement and memorable guest experiences.
Patrick Basset, Chief Operating officer AccorHotels Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives says, “Taylor’s art focuses on the natural beauty of the location, creating an extraordinary linkage between our resort and the destination to encourage sustainable tourism. This artwork provides a portal for our guests to engage with the area’s fabled natural wonders while enjoying the renowned Fairmont hospitality.”
A short swim from the shore leads visitors and resort guests through a portal from a well-known world above the surface down to a habitat space portraying a symbiotic fusion of terrestrial shapes colliding with sub-oceanic marine life. The materials, textures and configuration have been designed to encourage the settlement of biomass so the work acts as an artificial reef, giving nature a chance to thrive. The artwork creates artificial reefs, using non-toxic, pH-neutral marine-grade compounds free from harmful pollutants, which will eventually become an integral part of the local ecosystem. The museum structure represents a sheltered space that offers a permanent sanctuary for ocean life such as fish, crustaceans, octopuses and marine invertebrates offering visitors a new experience to engage with art and nature. The installation focuses on coral and biomass restoration and aims to be the most high-end coral regeneration project in the Maldives.
The Coralarium holds three dimensions of artwork: rooftop sculptures placed at the top of the cube structure; the underwater art pieces and sculptures placed on plinths at various heights to highlight tidal movements; and the semi-submerged architectural cube element, which creates a bridge and fusion between both terrestrial and sub-oceanic worlds. The installation focuses on a stainless steel cube structure at a depth of three meters in the lagoon, raising up six meters from the seafloor.
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi offers 120 keys. The all-villa resort is ideal for couples or families, and features overwater private pool villas as well as luxury safari-style tented villas nestled in the island’s lush interior jungle. Guided tours in small groups led by the resort’s resident marine biologists are available several times a day. In the evening, an integrated light system illuminates the museum and attracts marine life while creating an impressive sight from the island shore.
For more information about the works of underwater naturalist and artist Jason deCaires Taylor, please contact [email protected] or visit www.underwatersculpture.com.
Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is located at Shaviyani Atoll, North Maldives. The resort is accessible by a 50-minute scenic seaplane flight directly to the resort. AccorHotels today counts three hotels in the Maldives, including Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, Dhevanafushi Maldives Luxury Resort and Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi.
