Embraced by the sea

Exploring women’s relationship with the ocean, looking at cold swimmers in Cornwall.

Everything changed on the 23rd of March 2020 as England went into its first lockdown because of the coronapandemic.

Being by and in the sea became essential during the first lockdown. Immersed in the ocean, I experienced a sense of freedom. I never liked boundaries, but suddenly they were everywhere. For me, the ever-changing ocean was a promise of a better tomorrow. A world where I could travel through time and space and experience life again.

Many speak of the ocean as a coping mechanism essential to survive our daily lives. But what is happening when we go into the sea? What visual effects linger after being in the ocean?

Being from Sweden, I am more used to seeing women cold swim than men. And during the first year of the covid pandemic, I started seeing more and more women going into the sea.

I decided to explore the relationship between women and the ocean, looking at cold swimmers in south Cornwall. They have shared their stories about the ocean and invited me into a space where the sea embraces them.