Inaugural FOTO Bali Award Honors Photographers Documenting Mental Health and Climate Change in Indonesia
Nuanu Social Fund has announced the first recipients of its FOTO Bali Award, recognizing long-term photography projects. Rudi Waisnawa, who has documented people living with mental health conditions in Bali since 2014, and Irene Barlian, who records climate change impacts across Indonesian communities, were each awarded IDR 22 million from nearly 100 applicants.
The inaugural FOTO Bali Award, part of the FOTO Bali Festival held in Bali's Nuanu creative city, has announced its first two recipients. The award, backed by Nuanu Social Fund (NSF), is designed to provide unrestricted financial support to photographers for their ongoing practice, without requiring them to produce a new project.
One recipient, Balinese photographer Rudi Waisnawa (I Kadek Rodi Artawan), has spent twelve years since 2014 documenting people living with mental health conditions in Bali, using his work to challenge stigma. The project has since become a photobook made with Nicky Hogan.
The other recipient, Irene Barlian, has been documenting the direct impacts of climate change on communities across Indonesia since 2020 through her ongoing project Land of the Sea, supported by the National Geographic Society. The work was shortlisted for the 2022 Leica Oskar Barnack Award and exhibited in Singapore.
Selected from nearly 100 applications by a jury including Ng Swan Ti of PannaFoto Institute, each recipient receives IDR 22 million (roughly USD 1,300) to continue their work.
FOTO Bali Festival, launched in 2025, saw its 2026 edition draw nearly 700 submissions from over 80 countries, featuring 38 photographers from 24 countries and attracting almost 25,000 visitors, underscoring Bali's growing role as an international photography hub.
Things to Consider
Travelers and residents interested in photography or art can check Nuanu Creative City's official channels for upcoming FOTO Bali Festival exhibitions and events, which offer insight into local social issues and Indonesian culture. Booking accommodation early is advisable if visiting during future festival dates, as the event has drawn growing international attendance.
Source: adobo Magazine Online