The Wasteland - Coastal Communities on the Precipice
A project by Dr Gil Mualem-Doron / Sussex BPOC Photography Collective UK We Are Kommune - Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
Ocean pollution in Sri Lanka has reached critical levels, posing an urgent threat to marine
ecosystems and the coastal communities that depend upon them. The accumulation of
plastic debris, chemical runoff, and untreated sewage is disrupting fragile coral reefs,
degrading marine biodiversity, and endangering vital fishing industries. For many coastal
families, whose livelihoods are intrinsically tied to the sea, declining fish stocks and
contaminated waters are not abstract environmental concerns but daily realities that
lead to food insecurity and economic instability.
Pollution also affects Sri Lanka's beaches, which have long been celebrated as key drivers
of tourism and local income. As shorelines deteriorate, so too does the delicate balance
between environmental sustainability and human well-being. The crisis underscores the
profound interconnectedness among ocean health, social equity, and economic resilience,
demanding urgent collective action.
Responding to this escalating emergency, artist, photographer, and researcher Dr Gil
Mualem-Doron [UK 1970], who was invited by Dilsiri Welikala, an artist and founder of We
Are Kommune and Kitesurfing Lanka to collaborate with local schoolchildren in Kalpitiya
to create a powerful, multi-layered interdisciplinary art project. Together, they collected
plastic waste from Kalpitiya's beaches and transformed it into a striking series of
wearable sculptures. These reclaimed materials became the foundation for a provocative
"trashy" fashion shoot and an original dance-music performance.
The performance's lyrics draw inspiration from the historic speech delivered by Severn
Cullis-Suzuki at just 12 years old during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 - a
call to environmental responsibility that continues to resonate across generations.
Through art, collaboration, and community engagement, The Wasteland confronts the
escalating environmental crisis while amplifying the voices of young people standing at
the frontline of climate and ecological change.
Sea of Change is part of the Inter Municipality Partnership Project between the Town
Councils of Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka and Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf, Berlin, Germany. It was
supported by the Chalk Cliff Trust, Sussex, UK, Kitesurfing Lanka, and We Are Kommune -
Kalpitiya.
The project was inspired by the short film The Monster Dilsiri Welikala, an artist
and founder of We Are Kommune and Kitesurfing Lanka.
The project's participants: Oshadi, Derani, Dahara, Shenu, Sudara, Rashal, Rosith, Mischeni.
Supervisors: Thakeisha, Krishantha.