The mermaid rests amidst marine debris, a hook in her mouth and bait in her ear. Created in response to an ecological disaster on the Odra River, she is a stark contrast to the brave mermaid from the Warsaw legend. Polaczek’s mermaid is pale and melancholic, slumbering or defeated by the pervasive plastic. She bears a personal connection to the artist, as her face and hands were cast from those of his partner.