Our first photography journal Plaza features Indonesian photographer Aziziah ‘ Zizi’ Diah Aprilya who works as a researcher at the Tanahindie Institute, an urban research institution based in Makassar, Indonesia. She’s been documenting the area of Mariso and the issues around reclaiming.
Makassar is located on the southwestern coast of Sulawesi Island, facing the Makassar Strait. It became a cosmopolitan world port thanks to the spice routes in the early 17th century, with many considering the sea as Makassar's backyard. The city has always been closely linked to maritime activities both geographically and culturally. However, it is ironic to witness Mariso, one of the districts closest to the sea and the primary source of Makassar's essence, being transformed through reclamation projects. Most of its sea area has been converted into land, with sand mined from the seabed around Makassar. Unfortunately, this process of sea sand mining has caused abrasion in the fishing coast, damaged the coral reef ecosystem, and led to a decline in fish populations.
My project focuses on the coastal area in Makassar that has been reclaimed since the 1970s, with a particular focus on the district of Mariso. I document how the reclamation has changed things, including the relocation of many residents who once lived in stilt houses above the sea to flats, and the fact that some fishermen have stopped going to sea and are now working in the city. Additionally, sea animals that were once easy to catch are now disappearing, raising concerns about food security and biodiversity loss.
In short, the reclamation projects have had a profound impact on the coastal ecosystem and the communities that rely on it, highlighting the complex trade-offs between economic development, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The reclamation on the coast of Mariso has moved not only humans physically but also the spaces they were familiar with. Their ecosystem, which was originally centered on the sea, is now becoming land, changing their livelihoods, neighbors, and communal spaces until it is as simple as the view from the house window. This situation makes me wonder whether the people and the sea really have to give in the name of modernization, for a city that is running so it doesn't feel left behind.
It is worth noting that the Provincial Government recently signed an agreement with a developer regarding an advanced reclamation project called “Centre Point of Indonesia”. This project will reclaim an area of 12.11 hectares with an investment value of Rp3.5 trillion. Unfortunately, this will make it more challenging for fishermen who not only live in Mariso but also other districts in Makassar.
Aziziah 'Zizi' Diah Aprilya is a photographer and researcher who is featured in Plaza 01. You can find out more about her on her Instagram profile here: https://www.instagram.com/aziziahprilya/ and on the Tanahindie Institute website here: https://tanahindie.org/.