Beach.
Resorts.
Luxury.
These are the three most sought-after and talked about things when it comes to the tourism destination of Bali, Indonesia. In fact, in brochures, travel guides, blogs, and even official tourism sites about the island, these three words appear the most often out of all. It is becoming painfully obvious that uncontrolled mass tourism and development has seen this island’s most lucrative selling points overshadow its local character, communities and needs.
Today, Bali - like so many other developing destinations around the world - is stopping at nothing in its quest to go where the money goes. As this happens, economic exchange overtakes cultural exchange; the perfect holiday becomes a trophy experience that has less to do with unique places than with luxury accommodations; and the relationship between the local and the tourist deteriorates at a rapid pace.
Bali is a paradise. Yes - I answer, but for whom?
According to some tourism experts, Bali is a case past its point of no return. As someone who calls Bali home, this collection of objects is my reaction and criticism to the reductive culture of tourism and the unregulated, inauthentic image of Bali that is being sold to tourists the world over. Souvenirs, postcards and the guidebook - usually indicative of the tourist's experience of a trip or destination - are here presented as they are truly becoming: branded trophies of empty, and increasingly generic experiences.
My question to you is, are you buying into this too? As you pack your bags for your yearly holiday escape; what choices will you make, as a tourist and as a consumer?
This project was my graduation project at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam. It was nominated for the 2015 WDKA Drempelprijs and Research Prize. For more on the research behind this project, read my report "Sold in Paradise: On the imagery and language of tourism on the island of Bali" here.
Curious about Natasha's other projects? Visit her website.
