An Underwater Art Exhibit Just Opened in the Florida Keys

At the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean is where you’ll find a new art exhibit at the Florida National Marine Sanctuary. Located 140 feet below the ocean’s surface, “The Sinking World” showcases Austrian photographer Andreas Franke’s work, as well as his desire “to pull the spectators into unreal and strange worlds.” The collection depicts Europe’s opulent style and cultural history, but sets each photo at the bottom of the ocean.

To make the art airtight, the photographs and images are encased in Plexiglas with steel frames and coated with silicone. However, Franke did leave some spots open around the edges and corners of each piece to allow the ocean's saltwater to enter and transform his work into something that’s truly part of the sea. “Ordinary scenes of the past play within a fictional space and become dream worlds you can get lost in or you can identify with,” Franke said of the installation.

“The Sinking World” rests on the deck of the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg shipwreck, which is the world's second largest artificial reef.

[h/t WTSP News 10 Tampa Bay]

Images courtesy AJ+/YouTube.