LET’S SEA YOUR TATTS WITH LAURA HOPES AND LOW PROFILE
Nearly 300 sea-inspired tattoos were shared by people connected to Plymouth. The stories behind them were powerful, personal and, at times, unexpectedly emotional.
On Friday 27 February, we welcomed artists Laura Hopes and LOW PROFILE to Grow Plymouth for Let’s SEA Your Tatts - a free, drop-in sharing event marking the outcomes of their Sea For Yourself artist residency.
With over 150 people attending throughout the evening, and the project featured on BBC Spotlight, the event felt both locally rooted and widely resonaning, shaped by the willingness of people to share something personal, and by the sea that connects them.
They gave an informal presentation of the project, sharing a new photographic collection of sea-related tattoos submitted by people who live, work in, or have a strong connection to Plymouth. Each image carried its own story, of memory, identity, loss, belonging and home. The photographs were presented as an installation within the space, inviting visitors to move through the work at their own pace.
Alongside the photographs, they presented new work-in-progress artworks, including three “film-poems” inspired by the stories behind the tattoos. These pieces offered different reflections on what the sea represents in people’s lives, sometimes steady, sometimes shifting, always deeply felt.
Artist Laura Hopes in temporary tattoo parlour, Sea Your Tatts
There was also a pop-up temporary tattoo parlour, where visitors could choose from limited-edition designs created by invited Plymouth artists, a playful way to take part in the project and carry a small piece of it away.
“It was great to have Grow as a residency sharing venue. This city centre relaxed venue felt really fitting for the context of our residency and the team was friendly, supportive and approachable throughout, offering help when needed. The event was jam packed and a great success with lots of people turning up to find out more about our project.”
Let’s SEA Your Tatts has been commissioned and produced by Plymouth Culture for Sea for Yourself, with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund Horizons programme and Arts Council England Place Partnership.
This project is part of Plymouth Culture's 'Sea for Yourself' cultural programme that uses art, digital innovation and storytelling to connect people with the UK’s first National Marine Park.
About #DIYRESIDENCIES at Grow
Artists and collectives take over the project space to experiment and test out new idea. These residencies support artistic exploration across sustainability, food and drink, inclusion, grassroots culture, music, and heritage. All with the aim of nurturing Plymouth’s creative scene.