Episode 5: The Art of Activism
Italian fisherman Paolo Fanciulli had tried everything to stop illegal deep-sea trawlers from harming his beloved Mediterranean ecosystem, but nothing worked. That’s when he hatched the plan to place 10-ton marble sculptures on the ocean floor.
Italian fisherman Paolo Fanciulli had tried everything to stop illegal deep-sea trawlers from harming his beloved Mediterranean ecosystem. He protested, monkey-wrenched and he even impersonated a policeman, but nothing worked. That’s when he hatched the plan to place 10-ton marble sculptures on the ocean floor. By doing so, he joined the proud tradition of eco-activist art that not only raises awareness but also takes direct action. Now, over 10 years later, Paolo’s underwater museum has helped stop destructive fishing in the area and has shown how quickly the ocean can heal.