Where the Shadows Meet the Sea

Join us for a talk session with photographer Noah Alam, who has been documenting development progress and people’s lives from his base in Bangladesh.

We will discuss how people’s lives and the environment have changed since the Matarbari coal-fired power plant project in 2021, sharing perspectives as both a photographer and a Bangladeshi citizen, alongside experts from domestic NGOs, to examine what sustainable development requires today. Following the talk session, we plan to provide a networking opportunity for participants over light refreshments that offer a taste of Bangladeshi culture, helping to bridge the physical and psychological distance from Japan and make these issues feel more tangible and relatable.

Art Exhibition Overview:
In the beautiful coastal area of Matarbari, Bangladesh, there once existed a simple and beautiful way of life that had been passed down through generations. Fishing and salt field workers, and the laughter of children echoing through the markets.

This landscape has been completely transformed by the large-scale coal and imported gas-fired power generation project (MIDI Integrated Development Plan) for which the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided planning support.

How did the people forced to relocate rebuild their livelihoods? Was this the kind of development that community residents wanted? What did they lose, and what did they manage to preserve?

Through diverse forms of expression—video, photography, sound, scent, and embroidery—we invite you to experience local life through all five senses. Together, let us consider what sustainable development truly means.