Rivington supports local woman to experience Mexico’s Underwater Museum of Art

Islander Megan Woolsgrove has recently returned from a Rivington funded trip to Mexico. Having first heard about the fund through social media posts she applied for funding to travel to Cancun, Mexico to experience the art and history of the area. Specifically, the Underwater Museum of Art located in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, in the area surrounding Cancun, Isla Mujeres, and Punta Nizuc. She applied to do a short diving training course which would allow her to see the sculptures, specifically ‘The Silent Revolution’ and ‘Anthropocene' close to Isla Mujeres. She also took a snorkelling trip in the waters of Punta Nizuc to see the sculptures ‘The Muse of the Ocean, 'The Gardener of Hope,' ‘Reclamation,' and multiple others. 

In response to the trip Megan is designing a photography book of the content produced and the history of the environmentsshe discovered. We asked her about her interest in this very specific area.

Experiencing the collection of sculptures situated in the Caribbean Sea has been an activity I wanted to do since studying Jason deCaires Taylor around 10 years ago. The museum has a total of 500 sculptures, by a series of international and local sculptors, with three different galleries submerged in the ocean at the Cancun National Marine Park.

I am currently a Graphic Design masters student and have previously completed a degree in Fine Art. Experiencing the sculptures gave me inspiration for my university work centred around environment and forms. I have previously designed two photography books based on areas in Jersey. Travelling to Mexico provided me with a new environment and history to base my work around.

You went diving to experience something called 'The Silent Evolution' - what is that?

‘The Silent Evolution’ is an installation showing 400 individual sculptures of figures underwater. It is a two-part art installation: the underwater sculptures themselves are the first part, while the second is how nature will transform them as coral grows and a new reef forms. With a large part of my artwork being inspired by nature and environments, I took pictures and videos of these which I will incorporate into my artwork and designs. 

What else did you do while you were in Mexico?

Whilst in Mexico I undertook other activities to deepen my experience of Mexican art and culture on the trip. I visited Isla Mujeres, a small island off the coast of Cancun to discover the wall art and the statues that are scattered throughout the town dedicated to the history of Mexico. The ‘Goddess Ixchel’, the ’Sea Turtle Monument', and the ‘La Triguena’ are a few examples. Additionally, I photographed Chichén Itzá which was a sacred city of pyramids and temples and is classified as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

What was the highlight of your trip?

Rivington awardee Megan Wollsgrove

The highlight of my trip was going diving for the first time and experiencing the underwater sculptures. I specifically enjoyed seeing Jason deCaires Taylor's ‘The Silent Evolution’ which is the largest underwater collection of art on earth.

How has this trip positively affected you?

This trip has immersed me in a different culture and provided me with inspiration for my current project, pushing the content of my design and photography beyond a smaller environment. I now feel more confident in doing solo trips and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. 

How did you find the process of applying to Rivington?

I found the application really easy and I felt supported throughout the whole process. Everyone was really helpful throughout to answer questions and provide advice. 

What would you say to someone to encourage them to apply to take a trip with Rivington funding, particularly if they are apprehensive about such a process?

I would encourage anyone to apply for the Rivington fund. It’s an easy process and an amazing opportunity to have new experiences in places that might not be financially accessible.

Where and what would you like your next cultural adventure to be?

I would like to continue creating photography books in different locations. Going to Mexico and experiencing the underwater sculptures has inspired me to continue doing underwater photography. There are many underwater sculptures around the world , one which I would like to see is called ‘Ocean Atlas’ in the Bahamas which is known as the the largest single sculpture ever to be deployed underwater.