Ocean Siren
Visit the Ocean Siren and educate yourself about the impact that warming seas have on the Great Barrier Reef.
Artwork
The Ocean Siren is a 4m high illuminated sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor and inspired by Takoda Johnson, a young indigenous girl from the Wulgurukaba tribe. It serves as a warning signal about the warming seas' threat to the Great Barrier Reef.
The sculpture showcases Takoda holding a traditional indigenous communication device, a Bayliss shell, while looking out towards Magnetic Island and the Great Barrier Reef. At night, the sculpture's colour changes based on daily water temperature data from an AIMS weather station on Davies Reef.
This visual representation of current conditions helps raise awareness about the risks of warming seas to coral reefs. The structure of Ocean Siren, fabricated with stainless steel and translucent acrylic, features a matrix of LED lights that gradually change colour, resembling a heat sensing camera image. The sculpture aims to bring reef science to urban areas in a live, visual, and impactful manner, conveying a clear message about this complex issue.
Read the full artist description of the Ocean Siren by Jason deCaires Taylor.
Ocean temperature
The NOAA Coral Reef Watch satellite temperature data for the central Great Barrier Reef, where MOUA is situated, provides a comprehensive view of the reef's water temperature changes since 1985. The data unveils a concerning trend of consistent temperature rise over the years, leading to increased heat stress on the corals and a greater likelihood of bleaching events. Although not every year experiences such events, they are occurring with increasing frequency, leaving less time for the corals to recover. This highlights the urgency of addressing the underlying causes of rising temperatures and taking proactive measures to preserve and restore the health of the Great Barrier Reef's fragile ecosystem.
Jason deCaires Taylor
Jason deCaires Taylor MRSS is an accomplished sculptor, environmentalist, and underwater photographer renowned for his groundbreaking work in submerged and tidal marine environments. He created the world's first underwater sculpture park, which is now a National Marine Protected Area. Using environmentally sensitive materials, Taylor's sculptures encourage natural growth and explore themes of decay, rebirth, and metamorphosis. Through his innovative projects, he promotes marine conservation, raises environmental awareness, and showcases the captivating beauty of the underwater world.
★★★★★
“One of the Townsville night walks on the Strand must see attractions.”
Tamer Ghanima, Visitor
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Maps
The Ocean Siren statue is the only sculpture that is located on land at the Strand promenade in Townsville. All of the other installations including the Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Sentinels are located underwater at the main Museum of Underwater Art site at John Brewer Reef on the Great Barrier Reef in the Sea Country which can be reached by boat from Townsville.
★★★★★
“The coral greenhouse is stunning, the OCEAN SENTINELS ARE epic and the coral GROWTH and resident fishes are a delight. Cannot wait for another dive!”
Jo Stacey, Visitor
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Underwater Art
The are dozens of underwater art installations including the Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Sentinels at the main Museum of Underwater Art site at John Brewer Reef in the Sea Country - enough to keep you busy for multiple days of diving and snorkelling and exploring! This is one of the top things to do in Townsville, Queensland and a must see on the Great Barrier Reef.
