Less than two kilometers off the Algarve coast, a new underwater art exhibition has been unveiled in Albufeira, Breaking Travel News reports.
The EDP Art Reef project is the first of its kind in the country and was created by renowned Portuguese graffiti and street artist Alexandre Farto, also known as Vhils. Divers will be able to explore the underwater museum at a depth of more than ten meters, which houses 13 sculptures made from obsolete power plant parts.
To create the modern project, Vhils used materials collected from dismantled parts of EDP’s coal and fossil fuel power plants. The 13 sculptural works, made of iron and concrete, are placed in an exhibition area of 1,250 square meters, at a depth of about 12 meters and one mile from the shore. Moreover, the tallest sculpture reaches 5.3 meters.
“I tried to find different stories of human interaction with the sea, a story of survival, collision, tension, and also tried to find different points where our history intersected with the sea,” Vhils comments on the unique exhibition.
This work was “the most difficult and challenging” for him, not only because it involved a large team of people, but also because it was carried out on the bottom of the sea – a place of constant movement.
The underwater exhibition, while having a positive impact on the marine ecosystem, also contributes to the sustainability of the Algarve and the country as a whole on the path to decarbonization. This project also fits into the Algarve’s circular economy concept, as all previously used parts played an important role in Portugal’s energy history. They have been given new life first by the intervention of the Vhils and now by contact with the sea world.
Alexander Farto, known as Vhils, got his big break in 2008 when he was invited by Banksy, one of the most recognizable names in the world of street art, to participate in his exhibition The Cans Festival in London.
The Art Reef by Vhils exhibition is marked by a buoy with coordinates: N 37.06922391, W -8.20990784. It is open to all underwater explorers, provided they are accompanied by a technician, have insurance, and sign a liability waiver with companies associated with the project.
Divers can also book a trip to the underwater gallery through 19 tour operators in the region. The unique exhibition can be visited until the end of this year.