Paul Victory hails MOUA’s latest exhibit on World Ocean Day

Townsville’s Museum of Underwater Art will have an impressive guest list for the official launch of its latest exhibit out on the John Brewer Reef. See who is attending.

Townsville’s Museum of Underwater Art has marked a special day as it officially opens its Ocean Sentinels snorkel trail on World Oceans Day.

The new installation, featuring eight green concrete designs by international sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor, was put in place near John Brewer Reef in May earlier this year.

The official launch will be a special moment with a number of the muses that work in the Australian Marine Sciences field who inspired the artworks by DeCaires Taylor, getting to experience them up close and in person.

Professor John ‘Charlie’ Veron OAM, colloquially known as the “godfather of coral” for his work, will be in attendance as will Professor Peter Harrison, Dr Katharina Fabricus and Dr Richard Braley.

All four scientists will take a special event tour of the location thanks to Andrenalin Snorkel and Dive.

Sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor's underwater sculptures on display at the John Brewer Reef.

The exhibit will be the latest major attraction added to the Museum of Underwater Art since the Coral Greenhouse was first opened in 2020.

“These eight pieces will be the third installation in a series of ocean-based artworks installed throughout the Townsville region,” Mr DeCaires Taylor said.

Sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor's underwater sculptures on display at the John Brewer Reef.

“All eight models are renowned for their expertise in the field of marine science and marine conservation and their hybrid forms make reference to their contribution to their specific field of study.”

Dr Fabricus, who is one of the muses that inspired a sculpture, was recognised for her work studying coral ecologies, and said the increased focus the artworks would bring to such an important ecosystem was inspiring.

“It’s (MOUA) a living piece of art that communicates to the people how important research is, how important coral reefs are, and how all these aspects – art, science, humanity – can come together to protect the reef,” Dr Fabricus said.

MOUA Chair Paul Victory said having the launch of the exhibit coincide with World Oceans Day would allow the museum to further its obligations in spotlighting the situation facing the world’s reefs.

Sculptor Jason DeCaires Taylor's underwater sculptures on display at the John Brewer Reef.

“The purpose of World Oceans Day is to encourage a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and our region’s place in being the headquarters for the Great Barrier Reef, and access to some of the world-leading minds in marine research makes this installation more than beautiful artworks – it’s about storytelling, citizen science and encouraging real change through visiting the reef,” Mr Victory said.

“MOUA is about bringing people and science together - by visiting the Great Barrier Reef from Townsville – arguably some of the most pristine examples of coral reef globally – and exploring internationally-acclaimed art, we are hoping visitors will leave with a deeper appreciation of how vitally important our oceans really are.”

Originally published as Paul Victory hails MOUA’s latest exhibit on World Ocean Day