In 2014, an exhibition in Southampton’ SeaCity Museum and the John Hansard Gallery, in England, brought together a group of artists with very different styles. But one thing in common – they were all inspired by the sea. Since then, Jean Wainwright who curated that show has spoken to many of those artists about what lures them to the sea. Those interviews make up the foundation of her book: Ship to Shore. The book has a framing historical essay by Jean Wainwright, a historic essay by Philip Hoare, and 16 interviews by Jean Wainwright with Chris Burden (one of the last interviews before he died) Thomas Joshua Cooper, Dorothy Cross, Tacita Dean, Tracey Emin, Susan Hiller, Isaac Julien, Claire Kerr, Steffi Klenz, Langlands & Bell, Humphrey Ocean, Simon Patterson, Mark Power, Zineb Sedira, Yinka Shonibare MBE and Catherine Yass.

“.. being in water .. removes you from language, so it’s a wordless place” – Dorothy Cross

Photos by Anna Iltnere / Sea Library