Contemporary art has officially become a guardian of the sea. The technical submersion of five monumental Carrara marble sculptures has been successfully completed, marking the official launch of the new Argentario Underwater Park. The initiative, driven by the “Casa dei Pesci” (House of Fish) association in collaboration with the Municipality of Monte Argentario and supported by Miramis, seamlessly blends contemporary art, environmental sustainability, and responsible tourism.
The five large-scale marble artworks, crafted by international artists, were initially unveiled to the public on June 12 during an urban exhibition at Piazza dei Rioni in Porto Santo Stefano. Following this onshore preview, the sculptures were carefully lowered to a depth of approximately ten meters into the waters between Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano.
The project serves a vital ecological purpose. The heavy marble blocks act as physical deterrents against illegal near-shore trawling, shielding vulnerable marine habitats. Alongside the natural stone sculptures, bio-attractive 3D-printed artificial reefs (developed in partnership with D-Shape) and specialized pentagonal tiles were deployed to facilitate the regeneration of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and promote the repopulation of local fish species.
“The most fascinating aspect of this project is that the artworks will never remain the same,” noted Luigi Scotto, project coordinator for the Municipality of Monte Argentario. “The sea, time, and the Posidonia will slowly transform them, turning them into an organic part of the seabed.”
Through this visionary initiative, Carrara marble once again demonstrates its exceptional biocompatibility. The natural stone returns to the environment, transforming the Tyrrhenian seabed into a living, evolving underwater museum. The journey of the marble—from the quarries and artist workshops to its final destination beneath the waves—has been captured in the documentary Beneath the Surface, directed by Keti Stamo.
