Situated off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, The Silent Evolution is Jason deCaires Taylor's newest, most audacious work.

Spending much of his childhood in Malaysia and employed several years as a dive instructor, Taylor developed a deep love of the sea that remains a constant throughout his artistic work.

According to the artist, the sculptures will form a new home for a variety of aquatic creatures in the National Marine Park of Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc. The sculptures are created from materials that encourage coral growth and are designed to reduce the impact that over half a million tourists have on this area's natural reef systems each year. The sculpture park includes over 400 life-sized figures that explore centuries of human change, both visually and socially.

The Silent Evolution is the fourth exhibit Taylor has created for the Museo Subacuatico de Arte (MUSA), a monumental underwater museum that opened in Cancun in 2009. This year, the museum will commission local and international artists to contribute further sculptural installations while hosting underwater cultural events to celebrate the arts and science.

Taylor is optimistic that his work can usher in a new age of responsible and sustainable tourism for Cancun. Well-known for its mega-resorts and lively atmosphere, he hopes to define the region as both progressive and forward-thinking by forming a catalyst for social change.

Here are some photos from The Silent Evolution.

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