Q&A: The ReefLine: 7 Miles of Artistic Conservation

Miami, FL – December 10, 2024 – Slated to “break water” late Spring 2025, The ReefLine will be a groundbreaking 7-mile underwater sculpture park, snorkel trail, and hybrid reef off Miami Beach’s shore.

Built on the mission that artistic creation can pave the way for nature-positive scientific innovation, The ReefLine has slowly been brought to life through phases. “I’ve spent my life dedicated to bringing art to people, and my work has always underlined art as a tool for change,” shares ReefLine’s Founder & Artistic Director, Ximena Caminos. “The ReefLine emerged as an opportunity to bridge art, science, and sustainability in ways that positively impact both people and the planet — It’s a project that reflects these core values while remaining open, free, and inclusive to all.”

Phase 1 features a submerged reincarnation of Leandro Erlich’s celebrated “Order of Importance” (2019), installing a life-size “traffic jam” of twenty-two concrete car modules for sealife to inhabit. The installation aims to symbolically reverse the effects our actual cars have on the environment, contributing to the restoration of damaged ecosystems and allowing nature to take over.

Phase 2 is comprised several sculptures, including Carlos Betancourt & Alberto Latorre’s “Miami Reef Star”, which debuted on the shores of Miami during this year’s Art Week before making its way beneath the waves. Joining Betancourt and Latorre’s artwork are Petroc Sesti’s “Heart of Okean0s”, which mimics the heart of an actual blue whale, and Shohei Sigematsu’s “Barrier Modules” & “Super Structure”, a scalable geometric modular unit that can be positioned and stacked to follow the seabed’s natural topography.

“Beyond conservation, The ReefLine is about community — It’s a permanent testament to how art can drive change, not just by raising awareness but by actively contributing to solutions.”

WRE: What inspired you to start The Reefline, and what was the initial spark that led to the creation of this project?

Ximena Caminos: I’ve spent my life dedicated to bringing art to people, and my work has always underlined art as a tool for change. The ReefLine emerged as an opportunity to bridge art, science, and sustainability in ways that positively impact both people and the planet. It’s a project that reflects these core values while remaining open, free, and inclusive to all. The idea first took shape during a conversation with Colin Foord, the marine biologist behind Coral Morphologic. We discussed how artificial reefs could help restore Miami Beach’s threatened marine ecosystems, which are disappearing alongside its natural coral reefs. That exchange inspired a vision to address these challenges by uniting art and science, and that’s how The ReefLine came to life

WRE: How did you decide on Miami as the location for this ambitious project? What made this region an ideal place for a new coral reef?

XC: Miami Beach was a natural choice for The ReefLine. It’s not just a vibrant cultural hub; it’s also home to the Florida Reef Tract—the world’s third-largest reef system and the only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S. This vital ecosystem is under threat from coral bleaching, disease, and rising sea levels. As ground zero for climate change, we believe Miami has a unique chance to lead the way in tackling these challenges through local and global collaboration. The support of the community is key: from the $5 million in public funding to the 67% of Miami Beach residents who voted to tax themselves for the project, it’s clear this city is committed to building a better future. The ReefLine is more than an environmental solution, it’s a symbol of Miami’s creativity, resilience, and a call to protect our oceans for generations to come.

The ReefLine emerged as an opportunity to bridge art, science, and sustainability in ways that positively impact both people and the planet.

Ximena Caminos

WRE: How did you go about building a team for The Reefline, and what key qualities did you look for in the people who joined the project early on?

XC: The ReefLine collaborates with multidisciplinary teams of scientists and futurists to integrate cutting-edge technologies in ocean conservation, marine biodiversity monitoring, and sustainable resource management, complementing its groundbreaking cultural work. Ambassadors like Bodhi Patil have made significant impacts since joining The ReefLine in 2022. Bodhi presented at Aspen Ideas Climate, led the Ocean Justice Fellowship—which will leave a lasting legacy—and conducted community workshops in Moorea, French Polynesia, alongside our founder, Ximena Caminos. The initiative also works with Coral Lab, marine biologists, and other scientists, as well as artists, cultural producers, architects, and philosophers, to explore innovative ways of uniting culture and science.

WRE: What are the long-term goals for The Reefline, both in terms of marine conservation and community engagement?

XC: The long-term goal of The ReefLine is to practice a kind of “marine acupuncture,” using art and cutting-edge blue technology to target critical areas in the ocean and unlock their potential to regenerate. By addressing the damage caused by climate change, we aim to restore marine ecosystems while also fostering a deeper connection between people and the ocean. But beyond conservation, The ReefLine is about community. It’s a permanent testament to how art can drive change, not just by raising awareness but by actively contributing to solutions. We hope it becomes a blue lab for collaboration, where artists, scientists, and the local community come together to inspire action and create a sustainable future.

WRE: What do you hope the legacy of The Reefline will be, both for coral reefs globally and for the local Miami community?

XC: The ReefLine isn’t just about coral restoration, it’s about helping coastal resiliency. We’re creating public housing for fish, providing new habitats in the form of our sculptures, and establishing a coral resiliency testing site. Currently, we’re breeding 2,200 corals and working on a permit to install them in our sculptures using Coral Lok, a technology designed to accelerate coral planting. It’s a wonderful blend of art and science, aimed at restoring balance to marine ecosystems. We want The ReefLine to serve as a hub for education and involvement for the local Miami community. There are plenty of opportunities for people to get hands-on, from helping scientists monitor fish populations to outplanting coral fragments cultivated in nurseries. The legacy we hope to leave is one of collaboration, where art and science work together to protect coral reefs globally and inspire the local community to become stewards of the ocean.