A seahorse made of waste rises at Rabindra Sarobar

A towering seahorse sculpture made from discarded plastic and marine debris now stands near Gate 8 of Rabindra Sarovar, adding an unusual piece of environmental art to one of the city’s most frequented lakeside stretches. Rising 15 feet high, the installation, A Phoenix of the Ocean — turns ocean waste into a striking visual reminder of the growing problem of plastic pollution.The artwork first debuted at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai before travelling to Kolkata. Conceptualised by Sukrit Sen of the Living Waters Museum and crafted by artist Vyom, the sculpture has been refurbished and installed by the Inner Wheel Club of Central Calcutta with support from the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. Standing on a three-foot base, the structure is made using refurbished metal, discarded fishing nets, moulded garbage bags and plastic collected from beaches. Its lower section is coated with used machine oil to symbolise the pollutants that contaminate marine ecosystems.
Members of the club worked with students from The BSS School and Harapur Junior High School to refurbish the installation before it was placed at the entrance of the lake — one of the city’s designated plastic-free water bodies. “Sustainability is a concept I am deeply passionate about… When I first saw the Seahorse in Mumbai, I knew it belonged in Kolkata.Bringing it here was almost destined,” said Vinnyta Agarwala, president (2025–26) of the Inner Wheel Club of Central Calcutta.

For Sukrit, art remains a powerful way to spark conversations around the environment. “Throughout history, art has remained one of the most democratic and enduring mediums of human expression. In Kolkata, how else to talk about climate awareness if not through art?” he said.

Pics: Samik Sen

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