The Feminine Sea, Luke Forman

In poetic language, there was once a custom of referring to the sea as “she.” In many cultures, the sea was personified as a goddess—indeed, the Greeks believed that Aphrodite sprang from the sea’s foam. The sea is referred to as a feminine noun in languages such as French (la mer) and Spanish (la mar), symbolising its omnipotence and life-giving qualities.

Luke was born in Kent and raised in London, England. He was inspired by Irving Penn, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Albert Watson. Luke assisted many of London’s fashion and advertising photographers and later attended The London College of Printing, graduating with distinction. After leaving LCP, he was commissioned by several London magazines to feature his work in fashion, beauty, and celebrity portraiture. Over the course of his career, Luke has worked in London, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Paris, Cape Town, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, and throughout the Far East.

While living in Cape Town, South Africa—and regularly encountering the ocean through fashion photography projects—the idea for the Feminine Sea project was born. Luke has always believed that the oceans offer a dazzling variety of shapes, colours, and movements that deeply inspire artists. Waves, corals, abyssal creatures, and the play of light beneath the water’s surface are all sources of inspiration.

Like many artists before him, Kent-based photographer Luke Foreman associates the beauty and energy of water with feminine power. Water has long been equated with the feminine aspects of creation, nature, and spirituality. Luke views the sea (and oceans) as life-giving, fertile, powerful, sensual, ever-changing, and mysterious—a beautiful yet treacherous entity that reinforces the notion of femininity as both alluring and dangerous. It provides sustenance (such as fish and other resources) and is seen as a life-giving force, akin to the role of a mother.

Luke also believes that oceans serve as a source of meditation and reflection on humanity’s place in nature. His art encourages viewers to question their relationship with the natural world and to envisage a more harmonious coexistence. By depicting the oceans, Luke’s works invite us to reconnect with nature and remind us of our responsibility to respect this essential element of life.

With special thanks to: Luxury Splash of Art  https://luxurysplashofart.com.  and A. Bliss https://www.instagram.com/ablissmounting/