NYESER PASESER PHOTO EXHIBITION

NYESER PASESER PHOTO EXHIBITION

In early 2026, Wisma Jerman, in collaboration with Agrie Conservation – an ongoing Conservation & Community Development Program – hosted the photo exhibition “Nyeser Paseser”. The exhibition showcased both the process and the outcomes of a photo story workshop conducted in the mangrove conservation area of Lembung Paseser, Bangkalan.

The Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Reserve (CMBR) Lembung Paseser is a conservation area initiated by PT Pertamina EP Poleng Field in 2017. Located in Sepulu District, Bangkalan Regency (Madura, East Java), it supports the protection of coastal ecosystems including coral reefs, seagrass beds, coastal forests, and mangroves.

More than 100 visitors attended a series of activities accompanying the exhibition, held from 24 to 28 of January 2026. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Bahar Lanu, the Assistant Manager Production Operations of PT Pertamina EP Poleng Field; Mr. Agus Satriyono; the Co-Founder of Agrie Conservation; and Mr. Dhahana Adi Pungkas the Cultural Program Assistant of Wisma Jerman, all of whom delivered welcome remarks.

The photos presented in the exhibition were taken by 14 selected participants during a photo story workshop held in December 2025. Over three days of fieldwork, participants observed and engaged with various members of the Lembung Paseser community, including fishermen (catching not only fish, but also octopus and crab), pond managers; teachers, and local champions of mangrove rehabilitation and conservation.

They documented everyday practices that may appear simple at first glance, yet embody extensive forms of knowledge, built through experience, repetition, and intergenerational transmission.

Complementing the photo exhibition, a live cooking event was held on Sunday, 25 January 2026, featuring a variety of dishes prepared by the women of Lembung Paseser using local commodities. While the food was being prepared, visitors had the opportunity to observe the cooking process firsthand and learn how to eat the results. Many visitors were curious to try the food, especially the oysters. This activity was a response to the photographic work of one of the exhibition participants, Sherly Aprilia, who created conceptual photos of seafood sourced from the Lembung Paseser mangrove conservation area.

On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, a photo discussion and artists talk was held with Guslan Gumilang, a former Jawa Pos photojournalist. The session explored the narrative nature of each series of photographs on display during the exhibition and highlighted how, combined with short texts and reflective essays written by the participants, they provided visitors with a deeper understanding of the works within broader socio-ecological contexts. These included the dependence of livelihoods on natural resources, the ways in which humans shape their environment, economic pressures, and conservation efforts that coexist with ongoing processes of consumption.

Ultimately, the exhibition aimed to foster greater respect for local practices and a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the social-ecological system of Lembung Paseser.