The ReefLine, A New Underwater Sculpture Park In Miami Beach, Debuts Commission By Carlos Betancourt
The ReefLine––a major new 7-mile-long underwater public sculpture park––is pleased to debut Miami Reef Star, a large-scale sculptural installation by Carlos Betancourt on the South Beach shoreline during Miami Art Week, on view to the public from Tuesday December 3 – Sunday, December 8. Developed by BlueLab Preservation Society and supported by $5 million public funds from the City of Miami Beach, The ReefLine will feature environmentally engaging works by acclaimed artists and designers, and will provide a critical habitat for endangered reef organisms, promoting biodiversity and enhancing coastal resilience.
Founder and Artistic Director Ximena Caminos in collaboration with renowned architecture firm OMA will design the ReefLine’s 15 acre underwater masterplan––which includes a snorkel trail and purpose built reef located 600 feet off Miami Beach’s shoreline––alongside a team of expert marine biologists, researchers, architects and coastal engineers. Placed in 15-20 feet of water and within swimming distance from the shore, the ReefLine will feature environmentally functional artworks, incorporating proprietary materials (CarbonXinc, Coral Lok) that will act as hybrid coral reefs, and offer the community a free opportunity to engage directly with Miami’s marine biodiversity and underwater public art.
Caminos comments: “The ReefLine seeks to perform a unique kind of ‘marine acupuncture,’ blending art and innovative blue technology to target vital pressure points in the ocean. Our goal is to unlock their regenerative potential, ultimately restoring what has been lost to the devastating effects of climate change while fostering community engagement and awareness. We aspire to become a blue lab for cross disciplinary collaboration and influence public policy.”
Render of OMA/Shigematsu’s masterplan for the ReefLine.
Created in collaboration with architect Alberto Latorre, Betancourt’s Miami Reef Star is a 60 ft installation composed of 46 modules, each a textured star sculpture of varying shapes and sizes. It serves as a prototype study of the artist’s contribution to the ReefLine, which, once installed beneath the city’s waters, will encompass a diameter of 90 ft and be viewable from airplanes flying overhead, demonstrating both artistic vision and environmental stewardship.
The installation will debut during Miami Art Week as part of Star Compass, a series of three large-scale beachside public art installations, curated by Ximena Caminos and Art&Newport founder Dodie Kazanjian. Intended to honor the interconnectedness of land and ocean, the series will feature The Great Elephant Migration, an installation of 100, life-sized Indian elephants crafted from lantana camara, one of the world’s top invasive weeds. The third element of the series, commissioned as an aquatic counterpoint to the herd, is Voile/Toile – Toile/Voile, one of Daniel Buren’s most significant works, which takes the form of a regatta featuring sail boats adorned with his trademark colored stripes.
Star Compass will be the final precursor to the multi-phase rollout throughout 2025 of The ReefLine, beginning with Concrete Coral, Leandro Erlich’s site-specific traffic jam featuring life-size concrete car sculptures, raising awareness of the relationship between climate change and traffic chaos. Concrete Coral will seamlessly merge with its natural environment, reversing the effect our actual cars have on the environment, and contributing to the restoration of damaged natural habitats. In addition to designing the masterplan, OMA/Shigematsu will create a unique sculpture that transforms a staircase into an underwater folly reminiscent of marine life. Exploring the concept of weightlessness, the organic form provides layered zones for coral reef growth and interstitial spaces for exploration.
Shohei Shigematsu, OMA Partner, comments: “The ReefLine masterplan extends over land and water. We have chosen underwater deployment locations so that ReefLine installations work and collaborate with the existing network of natural reefs. We look forward to continuing to develop this important project that brings together culture, community, and nature through both awareness and action.”
Render of OMA/Shigematsu’s underwater sculpture.
Render of OMA/Shigematsu’s masterplan for the ReefLine.
About The ReefLine
The ReefLine will be a new 7-mile underwater public sculpture park, snorkel trail and artificial reef located off Miami Beach’s shoreline. This nonprofit organization (501-C3) is committed to restoring Miami’s marine coastal ecosystem and fostering environmental awareness through art and action-driven conservation. Their mission is to catalyze local change with a global vision and help revitalize the Florida Reef Tract—the world’s third- largest reef system—which once flourished along Miami’s coast but has been profoundly affected by urban expansion and ecological degradation. By merging art, science, and conservation, The ReefLine raises public consciousness and nurtures a collective commitment to ocean preservation. The large-scale environmental public art project has been conceived by cultural placemaker Ximena Caminos, who serves as Artistic Director, and developed by the BlueLab Preservation Society. The ReefLine will collaborate with architecture firm OMA to design the masterplan as well as a distinct sculpture within it, and work alongside a team of expert marine biologists, researchers, architects and coastal engineers.
About Carlos Betancourt
Carlos Betancourt (b. San Juan, Puerto Rico 1966) is an American multidisciplinary artist exploring memory, experience, and the environment, as well as matters of beauty, identity and communication. His artwork is part of public collections such as the Smithsonian’ National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio Museum of Art, Texas, New Orleans Museum of Art, Louisiana, Palm Springs Arts Museum, California, Bass Museum of Art, Florida, PAMM Perez Art Museum, Florida, and the Museo de Arte Ponde, Puerto Rico. His work has been exhibited in Art Basel and Arco, and he is the recipient of the Florida Department of State Millennium Cultural Recognition Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, Bas-Fisher Invitational Grant, the Florida Prize on Contemporary Art People Choice Award, and the Miami Beach Arts Council Grant. He has worked as a curator and furniture designer and has collaborated in architectural and site-specific private and public commissions with architect Alberto Latorre. He currently lives and works in Miami, Florida.
About OMA
The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), founded in 1975 by Rem Koolhaas, is an international architectural practice operating within the traditional boundaries of architecture and urbanism, while engaging in broader cultural and social contexts. With offices in Rotterdam, New York, Hong Kong, and other cities, OMA is known for its innovative and provocative approach to design. Their portfolio includes transformative projects like the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, Seattle Central Library, and Casa da Música in Porto. OMA’s work extends beyond buildings, addressing the complexities of urbanism, technology, and cultural theory to create influential and iconic spaces worldwide.
Photos Courtesy of ReefLine
Date Posted: November 12, 2024