Seahorses

Seahorse Sculptures – Marine Litter Monitoring Project
Bathers Beach (Fremantle), Jervoise Bay (Cockburn), Palm Beach (Rockingham)

This series of sculptural seahorses was commissioned by Linda Davies, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management at the University of Notre Dame Australia, as part of a scientific marine litter monitoring project.

The primary aim of the project is to gather data on beach debris to support environmental advocacy and inspire government policy change; such as banning single-use plastics like straws. Community members are invited to collect litter from the beach and place it inside the sculpture. Each month, Linda empties the sculpture, records and collates the data, and submits it to environmental authorities — making art a conduit for real change.

The sculptures are made from laser-cut mild steel plate with perspex windows and powder-coated in a vibrant turquoise to match the nearby ocean. Standing around 2 metres tall, each sculpture is shaped like a seahorse. Seahorses are cute, friendly, gentle and you can consider yourself lucky if you see one in the ocean.

While grounded in science, these works also hold space for education and community participation. They raise awareness about the impact of plastic pollution and invite everyday people to take part in caring for their coastline, thereby transforming beach cleaning into an interactive and collective experience.

The first sculpture was funded by Lotterywest and installed at Bathers Beach in Fremantle. Two more followed at Jervoise Bay (City of Cockburn) and Palm Beach (City of Rockingham) with support from Fremantle Ports.

For me, it was a privilege to contribute creatively to this initiative — blending art, science, and community action into a sculpture with real environmental purpose.