Giacomo d'Orlando
Symbiosis is a long-term project begun in 2022 examining relationships between coastal communities and marine ecosystems in the Asia-Pacific.
Oceans are fundamental to life on Earth, regulating climate, sustaining biodiversity, and supporting economic, social, and cultural life for billions. Coastal ecosystems and communities are interdependent and constantly shape one another. Today this relationship is under pressure from sea level rise, biodiversity loss, erosion, and resource overexploitation.
Symbiosis avoids framing environmental change only as collapse or emergency. It focuses on lived relationships between people and the sea, highlighting conservation and everyday practices that sustain fragile ecosystems while acknowledging ongoing impacts. Climate change and human influence are treated as continuous conditions shaping daily life, decisions, and work.
By foregrounding continuity rather than spectacle, the work invites reflection and complexity and fosters empathy for ecosystems that sustain life beyond visible boundaries.
Symbiosis, 2022, Sikao Bay, Trang Province, Thailand.
Sikao Bay, Trang Province, Thailand - 2022
Community-led seagrass transplantation in Sikao Bay, Trang Province, Thailand. Launched after a severe storm damaged the seabed and degraded water quality, the initiative has been sustained over two decades, with younger generations playing a key role in restoring marine habitats and supporting biodiversity recovery.
Symbiosis, 2022, Sikao Bay, Trang Province, Thailand.
Songkhla, Songkhla Province, Thailand - 2022
Sea turtles are among the many species affected by rising temperatures and habitat loss, which increasingly threaten their nesting and survival. The Royal Thai Navy collaborates with local communities to support long-term conservation and monitoring initiatives for hawksbill and green turtle populations.
Symbiosis, 2022, Tom Tong Yai, Chumphon Province, Thailand.
Tom Thong Yai, Chumphon Province, Thailand - 2022
A fisherman poses with his arm caught in a hand net in Tom Thong Yai village, Thailand. After years of overfishing and destructive commercial practices depleted local fish stocks, the community introduced regulations to exclude large vessels and return to small-scale, sustainable fishing methods.
Symbiosis, 2022, Amed, Bali, Indonesia.
Amed, Bali, Indonesia - 2022
Local divers are preparing to install artificial reef structures at a coral restoration site in Jemeluk, Bali. The initiative, led by the NGO Perkumpulan Pemandu Penyelam Amed (P3A), aims to support reef recovery in areas affected by unsustainable fishing practices and coral loss.
Symbiosis, 2023, Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia.
Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia - 2023
The Abrolhos Islands, located off the coast of Western Australia, sit at the confluence of temperate and tropical waters, supporting a variety of marine habitats. Protected as a marine reserve since 1999, the area reflects the role of long-term conservation in sustaining complex marine systems.
Symbiosis, 2022, Demak Regency, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia.
Demak Regency, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia - 2022
In Demak Regency, coastal erosion has left communities increasingly exposed to tidal flooding due to the removal of mangroves, the expansion of aquaculture ponds and land subsidence. When seawalls failed to stop the sea from advancing, local residents turned to mangrove restoration as a natural form of coastal protection.
Symbiosis, 2022, Demak Regency, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia.
Demak Regency, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia - 2022
Abdul is a fisherman in Timbulsloko, who continues to live and work along a coastline that is increasingly affected by rising sea levels. Recurrent flooding has reshaped daily life and livelihoods, forcing people to make difficult choices between staying put and seeking stability elsewhere.