Maris Ex Absentia

paper sculpture

exhibited on Biennale Jatim X

testament to the transformative power of industrialization on coastal communities. This piece, inspired by the evolution of Gresik's coastal expanse into a bustling industrial hub,

intricately uses meticulously painted paper to blur the lines between tradition and modernity.

Maris Ex Absentia is a contemplative exploration of the global phenomenon afflicting port cities, where history intertwines with the currents of trade, ushering in an era of modernization and industrialization. Gresik, my chosen locus, mirrors this narrative, as its entire shoreline succumbs to the dominating forces of industrial prowess, relegating erstwhile fishermen and traditional communities

to the periphery.

As the industrial tide sweeps over the traditional coastal way of life, the impact is palpable. Former fishermen and fish farmers find themselves entangled in the web of this economic evolution, assuming roles as brokers of goods and services, scavengers of discarded industrial relics, or laborers in the sprawling industrial machinery.

Maris Ex Absentia becomes a visual commentary on the intricate dance between economic behemoths and the local populace, caught in a struggle for survival within the shifting tides of power. It beckons viewers to confront the dissonance between progress and tradition and to contemplate the submerged narratives of those caught in the currents of change.