Sea for Yourself
Commission One
Plymouth Culture is delighted to be working with internationally acclaimed artist and filmmaker David Cotterrell on the development of the first commission for Sea for Yourself to be delivered between the end of 2025 and spring 2026.
David is collaborating with our producing team and partners in Plymouth to develop an imaginative and inspiring new project that will be presented across multiple sites in the city within the next nine months, exploring the shifting and porous relationship between land and sea.
About the Artist
David Cotterrell is known for his visionary public‑realm installations and digitally immersive artworks. His past projects have included a geyser that mysteriously appeared in an urban setting, films on memory and trauma, and a data-driven public sculpture connected to legal recognition of the rights of bodies of water as ‘living entities’.
David, who lives on a boat on the River Thames, was drawn to Sea for Yourself through a strong personal connection to the water and the programmes ambition to build a completely new type of relationship between people and the sea: “I want to create something open and accessible - something that uses animation, gameplay and narrative to help people experience the ocean with awe and urgency. Plymouth is the perfect city to do that.
About the Commission
David’s work will be the first of four major commissions, each exploring thematic areas ranging from inaccessible or unseen marine environments, maritime heritage, immersive digital experiences, and community co-creation.
This commission prompts the artist to develop creative ideas that might ‘make visible the invisible’. Drawing on the rich heritage and assets of the Marine Park, David’s research is exploring ways to reveal submerged or unseen water systems to invite public reflection on our connection to the sea. The work will unfold as a transformative cultural experience that uses digital screens across the city to connect visitors and residents to Plymouth’s infrastructural, cultural and emotional interconnections with the ocean.
Sea for Yourself is being led by Plymouth Culture in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. The programme development and delivery is supported by key partners including The Box, Real Ideas, Arts University Plymouth, University of Plymouth and Theatre Royal Plymouth. Sea for Yourself is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England Place Partnership Fund.
