Zoe is a Living Sea Sculpture by socio-ecological artist Colleen Flanigan. Zoe was fabricated in 2011 in Cancun. Initial installation into the sea was postponed due to a series of delays with contracts, permits, and unforeseen circumstances. The following 5+ years were filled with valuable lessons and growing relationships that led to its welcoming home sixty meters from shore in front of the Sand Dollar Sports Dive Shop and Sunset Restaurant, providing the power and internet connection. Zoe was invited to come to life in the unique coral restoration lab and underwater art museum, Musubo, a featured attraction of the annual Cozumel Scuba Fest. The first sculpture of its kind here in Quintana Roo, Zoe – A Living Sea Sculpture is easily accessed from shore by snorkeling, diving, or SNUBA.
Installation of Zoe in the fall of 2016 was a historic moment for the project. With a dedicated and talented international team our dream had been realized. On September 29th, the webcam went live and the electricity began to flow to Zoe to begin to build a base of calcium carbonate for corals to flourish on this 5m x 3m x 2m welded steel matrix inspired by DNA. Zoe created a structure to lure sea life to visit under her metal canopy in the clear waters of Cozumel, Mexico.
Zoe was made possible thanks to the Zoe Anderson Memorial Fund, along with over four hundred backers from our Kickstarter and Razoo crowdfunding campaigns, along with numerous private donors and conservation leaders in Mexico providing support for this unique effort to restore corals in an area damaged by hurricanes, pollution, and other human activities.
The steel sculpture is made up of 2 helices inspired by DNA. Are they coming together or dividing? You help decide. Will we find a way to co-exist in the future?
