Hozier, Muireann O'Connell, Bressie, RuthAnne and more have contributed to Surrounded By Sea, a photography exhibition that will launch at the Dean Art Studios next Friday, December 10.

The exhibition will support Refugee Rescue, a search and rescue organisation dedicated to saving refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The organisation is collaborating with photographer Ruth Medjber and Wyvern Lingo singer and keyboardist Karen Cowley for the exhibition, which will feature over 200 Irish seascapes and run until December 12.

"The sea gives me the feeling of familiarity that I can tap into anywhere in the world," said Medjber. "I use it to sooth my anxious mind when I travel. I let the sound wash over my noisy thoughts and drown out the sounds of a blustering world and recenter me with its infinite rhythm. I focus my eyes on the horizon and blissfully zone out. It's meditation, nostalgia, comfort and peace. The sea is my home from home."

"The sea was what we unanimously missed when the three of us were living in Berlin," said Wyvern Lingo. "Growing up in a sea-side town leaves you so ill-equipped to cope in landlocked places. The landscape of Bray has informed so much of what we've done artistically, and it holds so many memories for us."

"To me, the sea is the lifeblood of this country, holding both the sad and the joyous parts of our legacy. It means life in all its beauty and all its ferocity," they continued.

The exhibit launch will include performances from Stevie Appleby and Cherinet Ayele. Speakers from Refugee Rescue will also discuss their experiences, and winners of the photography competition for Surrounded By Sea will be announced.

Some of the celebrity contributors have also discussed their fondness for the sea. Hozier described the sea as "a place of community, making the beginning or end of the day, and feeling grateful" due to the amount of time he's spent in the sea with friends.

"For me, the sea brings peace and a sense of calm," explained model Thalia Heffernan. "I've always loved the idea that the tide comes and goes, the constant ebb and flow acting as a reminder of mother nature's strength and softness."

"Over the last few years the sea has become a form of therapy for me," said Bressie. "It's got a healing quality and it demands you embrace the present moment when you enter it. Some people call it a shock to the system, I call it a reset of the system."

Tickets for the exhibition launch are free, but donations are welcome. Signup for the event is required via Eventbrite.