“We Swim in the Sea”
(work in progress)
In this project I explore the culture around sea swimming. Spending several weeks with a group of local sea swimmers in Portsmouth I am intrigued as to why these people find it so fulfilling. To every morning around 7am go and swim in the freezing salt water. It does not matter what time of year it is, this group/community have people who consider this their daily ritual and some have been doing this for over 10 years.
I met Zak who kindly introduced me to the group. She shared her experience of being mixed raised and identifying as black as somewhat uncommon in the sea swimmers community and wanting to see more diversity in people coming to try it. For Zak it is a release of energy and having the connection to nature which is otherwise absent from her every day living in the city.
Central to my project is researching the environmental relationship in which we seek a belonging. To further understand the individual identity in a collective community. Also investigating further into the ongoing debates about sewage being released into water. Addressing controversy around the water of the coast of Portsmouth. Through images and text I will tell the story of those who swim in the sea.
I met Zak who kindly introduced me to the group. She shared her experience of being mixed raised and identifying as black as somewhat uncommon in the sea swimmers community and wanting to see more diversity in people coming to try it. For Zak it is a release of energy and having the connection to nature which is otherwise absent from her every day living in the city.
Central to my project is researching the environmental relationship in which we seek a belonging. To further understand the individual identity in a collective community. Also investigating further into the ongoing debates about sewage being released into water. Addressing controversy around the water of the coast of Portsmouth. Through images and text I will tell the story of those who swim in the sea.