Cabinet 10 - Main St (Post Office) - Seahorse

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Artist - Caitie Beth Designs

Artist Statement:

My submission for the Creative Cabinets project draws inspiration from Bangor’s deep maritime history and the mythology connected to its coastal identity, reimagined through the figure of the seahorse as a symbolic guardian of the town. Historically, the seahorse has appeared in coastal folklore as a protector of sailors and shoreline communities, rooted in the ancient concept of the hippocampus, a mythological sea creature with the body of a horse and the tail of a fish, believed to guide vessels safely through the water. Over time, the seahorse became a recurring maritime symbol, particularly in Northern Ireland, appearing on historic trading coins and coastal emblems, linking Bangor’s relationship with the sea not only to myth, but also to commerce, exchange and connection with the wider world. This dual meaning, both mythical and practical, forms the foundation of the design.

Cabinet Guardian - Søstrene Grene