People of the Sea

Sirius Arts Centre, The Old Yacht Club, Cobh, Co Cork Wed-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 2-5pm Until Jan 23 iol.ie/ ~cobharts 021-4813790; West Cork Arts Centre, North St, Skibbereen Mon-Sat 10am- 5pm Until Jan 29 028-22090 westcorkarts centre.com

French photographer Gilles Perrin is widely travelled. Three decades have taken him to African, Tibet, India, China, South America and all over Europe. In 2007 and 2008 he added Ireland to the list when he stayed here on artist residencies in Cork.

Perrin set out to document “the lives of people who work with the sea today”, with an eye to the practical realities of life on an island nation with an extensive coastline. He visited harbours and piers in Cobh, Baltimore, Schull and Castletownbere. Perrin works with a large format camera, making hugely detailed images with long exposure times and often presenting the finished pieces as diptychs or triptychs.

The photographs in these two exhibitions were printed in Cork at iophotoworks by Tony O’Brien. They reveal the tough, abrasive nature of the maritime environment – and also its exceptional appeal.

Can't see that? Catch this:

“Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked” Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow Until Feb 12 01-2724030