The creation of the first for Cyprus and for the Mediterranean Underwater Art Museum was announced today at a special event in Nicosia by the Municipality of Ayia Napa.
The presentation took place in the hall of POED in Nicosia, in the presence of the Minister of Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis, the Director of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research Marina Argyrou, the Officer of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and the Coordinator Ayia Napa, Giannis Karousou.
The Underwater Art Museum was presented by the world-famous British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, who, according to Mayor Giannis Karousos, will curate the work which is another step in the vision of Ayia Napa.
This is the greeting of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Costas Kadis, at the press conference for the underwater sculpture museum that will be created in Ayia Napa
It is with great pleasure that I attend today's press conference for the presentation of the first underwater sculpture museum in the Mediterranean, which will be created in Ayia Napa by artist Jason Decaires Taylor. The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, supports the initiative for the creation of this project, which will significantly contribute to the efforts to protect the marine environment and will further enhance environmental awareness in our country. Visitors to the artificial reef marine protected area in Ayia Napa will enjoy visual interventions, which will aim to enhance marine life, as they will also be artificial reefs.
What distinguishes the artist Jayson Taylor, is not only his unique sculptures, but also his sensitivities and concerns about the degradation of the marine environment, the overfishing and the destruction of coral reefs, which are unfortunately global phenomena. Looking at the works that the artist has completed in seven different parts of the world, it is obvious that art is for him a powerful means to convey important environmental and social messages.
Upon completion of the project, it is expected that thousands of Cypriots and foreign visitors will enjoy Jason's original work. We will actively support this unique project, as it is imperative that we manage with seriousness and responsibility the area in which the projects will be placed at sea. For this reason, we will immediately proceed to the formation of the institutional framework that will offer security to the projects and will create the appropriate conditions so that visitors to the area can enjoy high level artistic interventions, while biodiversity will develop smoothly in the field of artificial reef.
In closing, I would like to warmly thank the artist Mr. Jayson Taylor who honors us by choosing Cyprus to create the first underwater sculpture museum in the Mediterranean. I also thank the Municipality of Ayia Napa that will fully fund the project and especially the Mayor Mr. Giannis Karousos, who supported this unique effort. I also thank the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, which coordinates the project.
Famagusta.News