80cm

As an expatriate living in Phnom Penh, my daily ritual has been walking along the Mekong River, just a short distance from my home. These daily walks have inspired me to question on the future of this crucial river system.
The Mekong Delta, located near the modern city of Ho Chi Minh in southern Vietnam, is facing one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time. Threatened by climate change, rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and increased salinity due to sand dredging and upstream dams, the region’s survival is increasingly uncertain.
80cm is a photographic exploration of an imagined, apocalyptic future where the rising sea has submerged the delta, and humanity has disappeared, leaving nature to reclaim the land. The title 80cm refers to the region’s average elevation above sea level, underscoring the potentially catastrophic effects of rising waters on this low-lying area.
In this series, only a handful of survivors confront a harsh and transformed landscape. The work invites viewers to reflect on the profound consequences of climate change and human intervention on this fragile ecosystem.
This series is the second chapter of a broader project focused on the threats facing the Mekong. The final series will examine how these regions are interconnected and explore their collective vulnerability to the challenges of a changing climate.