Irene Barlian
Asia
Based in Jakarta, Irene Barlian makes short videos that tell cultural, social, and environmental stories. Her series Land of the Sea reveals the reality of climate change in Indonesia from the perspective of local communities, focusing on the role of women and their efforts to reduce environmental impact. Accompanied by analyses from climate experts, these videos go beyond traditional documentary practices. They aim to raise awareness of the climate crisis and share our experiences, highlighting the resilience of communities already affected. Irene Barlian’s work is published worldwide. In 2022, she received the Objectifs Documentary Award and was shortlisted for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
© Irene Barlian, Land of the Sea
The subjects of Irene Barlian’s photography are deeply pertinent to the climate crisis facing our planet. I feel that this series, Land of the Sea, are images that speak unequivocally to the reality of climate change from a place not often associated with the narratives of the climate emergency. Indonesia and its neighbors in the region of Southeast Asia is a geographical space that is hardly included in climate change narratives or agendas. Irene’s impactful photography shares not only the story of batik makers grappling with how their livelihood is being lost, but how their entire city and their way of life is shifting in response to the imminent loss of land as it continues to be engulfed in water.
About the series
“Land of The Sea is a story about the impact of climate change in Indonesia through the unique perspective of the community that resides in the region. The story highlights the perspective of women and explores the concept of local wisdom in mitigating environmental issues. I aim to portray a hopeful narrative with a sense of agency and innovation unique to the area, community, or culture. The project began in November 2020. I have covered several cities on Java Island and other islands, including Aceh. I collaborate with local communities to create a short video showcasing easy-to-understand, distinctive mitigation efforts carried out in each region. Additionally, I team up with a writer to provide comprehensive context, and a climate expert to supply relevant data.
The goal is to create a platform where people in Indonesia can understand, learn from, and be inspired by storytelling. Hopefully, this will lead to a systemic change in the country. The most significant element of my ventures is devoted to personal projects, and I consider the traditional documentary approach to be the core of my practise. However, I started exploring other media, such as video and sound, to bring the audience closer to the story. I hope that this project will raise awareness that climate change is already happening and spark conversations around the issue. On a deeper level, Land of The Sea is created for a profound understanding of what our future could be, to learn from those who have already been impacted but resiliently survive and adapt, and as a wake-up call.” – Irene Barlian
Bachelor in Communication Science, specializing in Journalism, Pelita Harapan University, Indonesia Photography training, Harrisburg Area Community College, USA National Geographic Explorer Member of Women Photograph, a photography collective centering on women and non-binary visual journalists Winner of the Objectifs Documentary Award 2022; shortlisted for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award
Exhibition at the Objectifs Center in Singapore, the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wet.zlar Germany, the Jakarta International Photo Festival, and the Bucharest Photo Festival Published worldwide such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Sunday Times, One World, Vice, Reuters, among others
