ABU DHABI // Four sculptures of sea creatures made from recycled materials are to be auctioned for charity.
The seahorse, conch shell, stingray and crab are the work of artist Suhail Jashanmal, who created them as part of the Green Abu Dhabi 2013 initiative.
He was aided by an American artist and sculptor, Chris Oricchio, and 70 children from the Gems American Academy in Abu Dhabi.
Each sculpture is about 1.5 metres tall but a specially-created stand will add nearly another metre to their height.
Work began 10 weeks ago. Mr Oricchio used scrap metal to create the skeletons, then the children added to them using discarded paper and cardboard, empty plastic bottles, aluminium cans and other recyclable materials as part of a two-day competition last weekend at Yas Waterworld.
"Even the strangest materials can be pretty if used creatively," said Mr Jashanmal, an Indian raised in Abu Dhabi.
The waste plastic, metal, wood and paper was sourced from the Park Rotana hotel, Oasis Water, Union Paper Mills and Al Faraa Group, a building company that also donated the tools needed.
The artists are putting the finishing touches to the pieces at a private warehouse in Abu Dhabi.
"We are nearly done," Mr Jashanmal said. "Now we are fixing some small issues."
The sculptures will be auctioned off at an event at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa in the capital in June.
The highest bidder's name will be put on a plaque at the base of the sculpture, which will then go on permanent display at Yas Marina.
"We expect to start bidding at Dh6,000 per sculpture and then see what happens," Mr Jashanmal said, with all proceeds going to charity.
Half the money raised will go to the Future Centre for Special Needs in Abu Dhabi. The other half will support Green Abu Dhabi's activities, including clean-ups at the mangroves off Salam Street.
Mr Jashanmal is organising a clean-up in the area on May 31 and expects about 90 people to attend.