Maldives police destroy Coralarium sea sculpture park deemed 'offensive to Islam'

Coralarium: The world's first tidal gallery at the Fairmont Maldives has been dismantled. Photo / Fairmont Maldives

Police armed with pickaxes and power tools have destroyed the world's first tidal gallery at a holiday resort in the Maldives after it was deemed "offensive to Islam".

The gallery, at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, which opened in July, featured semi-submerged exhibits that disappeared and reappeared as the tide went in and out.

But Abdulla Yameen, the outgoing president of the tourist nation, home to 340,000 Sunni Muslims, ordered the sculptures to be demolished. Islam, the official religion in the Maldives, bans the depiction of idols, and the work provoked some criticism from clerics even though the statues have no religious symbols or meaning.

Yameen made the order in July, but his ruling was not acted upon until last Friday, the eve of a presidential election, which he lost to a liberal candidate.

The artwork, known as the Coralarium, was designed by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor.

Resort guests could swim from the shore to the an underwater realm of human-shaped figures.

Outgoing president Abdulla Yameen ordered the sculptures to be demolished. Photo / Maldives Police

It was claimed the gallery structure would act as a sheltered space that offers a permanent sanctuary for ocean life such as fish, crustaceans, octopuses and marine invertebrates.

While in the evening, an integrated light system illuminated the gallery and attracted marine life while creating an impressive sight from the island shore.

However, Yameen said in July that "significant public sentiment" against the artwork known as "Coralarium" had guided his decision to destroy it.

It is unclear why the sculptures were not raised from the waters until Friday, just two days before Yameen was turfed out of office.

Sirru Fen Fushi resortgai hedhifaiva Coralrium gai insaanunge soora sifa vaagothah behettifaiva sculpture thah naga coralarium vany miadhuge 17:45 gai huskurevifai. pic.twitter.com/Yamgw4evCn

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) September 21, 2018

Police were photographed chipping away at the works with pickaxes and using power tools to remove them from the large and ornate cage housing them.

A video posted by state media showed several men tearing a statue off a plinth.

Artist Mr deCaires Taylor told AFP in a statement: "I was extremely shocked and heartbroken to learn that my sculptures have been destroyed by the Maldivian authorities at the Coralarium, despite continued consultations and dialogue.

"The Coralarium was conceived to connect humans to the environment and a nurturing space for marine life to thrive. Nothing else!

"The Maldives is still beautiful, with a warm and friendly population, but it was a sad day for art and sad day for the environment."

Fairmont: The hotel wishest to respect the people, traditions and customs of the Maldives. Photo / Supplied, Fairmont Maldives

A spokesperson from the Fairmont Maldives said: "While we are very surprised by the sudden removal of eco-art pieces by the authorities we respect the people, traditions and customs of the Maldives.

View this post on Instagram

Coralarium: подводный музей на Мальдивах ⠀ Новый мальдивский отель Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi – единственный в своем роде, ведь именно здесь, среди девственных коралловых рифов, знаменитый эко-художник Джейсон Декайрес Тейлор создал уникальный подводный музей Coralarium. ⠀ Инсталляция воспевает естественную красоту коралловых рифов и привлекает внимание к проблеме защиты мальдивского подводного мира. Главный элемент композиции – наполовину погруженный в океан огромный куб из нержавеющей стали, грани которого сплетены из плавных растительных линий. Помимо скульптур на поверхности этого сооружения, на морском дне ныряльщиков ждут и другие произведения искусства, выполненные из экологических материалов для того, чтобы со временем стать неотъемлемой частью экосистемы. Причудливые гибридные формы напоминают и об обитателях суши: листья плюща и корни баньянового дерева плавно перетекают в силуэты кораллов, а живые морские организмы, населяющие инсталляцию, создают таинственную магическую атмосферу. ⠀ «Мне всегда внушал скромность тот факт, что, как только мы погружаем скульптуры в воду, они перестают быть нашими: с этого момента они принадлежат морю, и природа берет верх», - говорит автор композиции. ⠀ Coralarium является прямым продолжением Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi: следуя подводной тропой из центра курорта, вы всего через несколько минут найдете портал в другой мир, где земные формы сталкиваются с подводной жизнью, образуя трансгуманистическое переплетение человеческого, растительного и кораллового начала. ⠀ По вечерам встроенная подсветка привлекает морскую живность и позволяет любоваться музеем с берега. ⠀ ⠀ Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi несколько раз в день организует экскурсии в небольших группах, которые сопровождают морские биологи, рассказывающие о необычном и прекрасном подводном мире Мальдив.

A post shared by Индивидуальные туры - СОДИС (@sodis_official) on Jul 24, 2018 at 6:54am PDT

"The removal process of the installed artwork was peaceful and friendly without interruption to our world famous service.

"The Coralarium gallery structure and the tree lined underwater coral boulevard remains intact, ensuring the coral restoration program remains alive and well. We have initiated immediate plans for the next exhibit, creating a new attraction within the Coralarium gallery."

Police were photographed chipping away at the works. Photo / Police Maldives

The import of statues is prohibited in the Maldives. Even depictions of the Buddha are banned despite a long legacy of Buddhism on the islands before Islam came to dominate the archipelago.

Despite the edict, huge cutouts of Yameen towered over the capital Male in the lead-up to Sunday's poll, which he lost after five years of strongman rule marked by a regression from democracy.

Many of these cardboard posters depicting the ousted leader were torn down after he suffered a shock defeat to opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, an act of defiance unthinkable under his iron-fisted leadership.

Abdulla Yameen, President of the Maldives. Photo / Getty Images

Sunday's election was held with all key opposition leaders behind bars or in exile, leaving the little-known Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to challenge Yameen. In a major upset, Solih won with 58 percent of the vote.

Solih's victory was greeted warmly by India as Yameen had drifted closer to China, borrowing heavily from New Delhi's regional rival to invest in infrastructure.

Declaring victory, Solih demanded Yameen immediately release all political prisoners in the country. A Maldivian court freed five of them on Monday night.

Many more are still in jail, including Yameen's estranged half-brother and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, 80, who is expected to be released shortly.

Under intense international pressure, Yameen conceded defeat and pledged to allow a peaceful transition when he formally steps down on November 17.