Symbiosis

Presented at a time when the climate crisis is transforming marine environments and threatening the livelihoods of coastal communities, the exhibition is an urgent and visually arresting exploration of the profound relationship between humans and the sea. Drawing on years of research across coastal regions in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines, d'Orlando reveals how the climate crisis is reshaping both ecosystems and the communities whose survival depends on them.

“At The Current, we are committed to showcasing artwork that sparks urgent conversations about the defining issues of our time,” said Rachel Moore, Executive Director of The Current. “With Symbiosis, d’Orlando offers a visual call to action, inviting the public to reflect on our shared responsibility and the urgent need to restore balance between human activity and marine health.”

d'Orlando's approach to Symbiosis is multifaceted, combining traditional techniques of documentary photography with a full-frame camera and prime lenses, along with aerial and underwater photography. This diverse visual exploration aims to take the audience on a journey through hidden places and communities that often remain out of sight.

Symbiosis is an ongoing photographic project, begun in 2022, born from a deep concern for the oceans, which cover more than 70% of our planet and serve as vital ecosystems sustaining life, regulating climate, and providing nourishment, protection, and cultural identity to billions. The series juxtaposes the breathtaking natural beauty of marine environments with the resilience and vulnerability of the communities that depend on them. Small-scale fishermen and Indigenous peoples, those who contribute the least to the climate crisis, are often bearing its most immediate and severe consequences. Through environmental portraiture, documentary imagery, and landscape studies, Symbiosis gives voice to those navigating rising sea levels, eroding shores, and vanishing biodiversity.