The sound of the sea.

Jakarta : Calvin Chow, 2019.

1 photograph : colour digital print ; 70 x 56 cm

Number 1 in an edition of 3.

Title provided by the artist.

"Along the seawall in the North of Jakarta lie many ladders, some made of rope and driftwood, to provide people with a way to scale the wall. It is often used by fishermen to find a vantage point for fishing or simply used by onlookers, hoping to catch a view of the sea."--Calvin Chow

"A giant seawall north of Jakarta, Indonesia defends the land from water. Stretching beyond what the eye can see, it reveals a dichotomy between nature and progress, as the sea rises amidst an economic boom. At the same time, the land shielded by the wall sinks rapidly as reliance on wells and groundwater undermines the very foundation of life. One-third of the capital city is expected to be submerged by 2050 and grand plans for a new capital in Nusantara have already been unveiled. But before a new city is constructed from scratch, it is the lives of fishermen and those who reside precariously near the seawall that face the greatest challenge."--Calvin Chow, from the project description

Wellcome Collection 3321158i

Copyright: All rights reserved

Exhibited in Being Human at Wellcome Collection

Exhibition caption for Being Human, Wellcome Collection: "On Indonesia's north coast, rising sea levels caused by climate change threaten people's lives and livelihoods. A giant sea wall was built to protect the city of Jakarta from high tides. Calvin Chow's photographs show the everyday impacts of climate change for communities living by the wall. A mosque is abandoned to the sea. Fishermen need homemade ladders to catch fish and are pushed further out to sea to make a living."