The Power of Portraiture: Telling Tuvalu’s Story

Tuvalu, an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, comprises nine islands and atolls. It ranks among the smallest and least populous countries globally. With a total land area of around 26 square kilometers and its highest elevation at just 4.6 meters above sea level, Tuvalu faces significant threats from rising sea levels due to climate change.

As rising seas encroach on Tuvalu’s shores, the threat extends far beyond infrastructure and livelihoods. Tuvalu’s culture, heritage, and way of life — nurtured over generations — are at risk of being lost. Yet, amidst these challenges, Tuvaluans continue to display extraordinary resilience. Local efforts to preserve tradition, sustain livelihoods, and protect the land are ongoing and deeply rooted in community strength.

The Inside Out installation at the UN Ocean Conference featured hundreds of portraits of researchers, policymakers, and activists, including some portraits of members of the Tuvalu communities.

This June, the island nation of Tuvalu made waves at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice as 40 portraits of participants from all ages transformed the Palais des Expositions into a striking symbol of global unity. This Inside Out Action connected the community of Tuvalu, particularly the youth, with the global community to raise awareness about the threats of rising sea levels for the island nation, as it is projected to be uninhabitable by 2050 due to climate change. The Project has now seen Actions in 154 countries and territories!

Kato Ewekia, Climate Activist and Artist

Among the voices leading the call for climate justice is Kato Ewekia, a young climate activist and artist from Tuvalu. Kato has collaborated with the Rising Nations Initiative, an initiative of the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, advocating for the protection of Tuvalu and the preservation of its unique cultural identity in the face of existential threat.

The portrait on the right features Kato Ewekia,

As a Climate Mobility Fellow, Kato will dedicate the coming year to advancing climate advocacy both in Tuvalu and on the global stage, sharing stories from the frontlines of climate change.

Through his portraits, Kato captures the lived experiences of Tuvaluans navigating climate change. He photographed the series across Funafuti, Tuvalu’s capital, where “the ever-present relationship between people and the sea is always visible,” as he describes.

Portraits from the photographic series of Kato Ewekia, which were displayed in Nice.

He also spent time on Amatuku, home to the Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute. “Amatuku offered a different rhythm — surrounded by water and focused on the future,” Kato notes, “with young people training to become seafarers, holding onto hope while rooted in tradition.”

“Some people were excited to be photographed, knowing their faces would help share stories of resilience with the world,” Kato recalls. “Others were more reserved, camera shy, but still allowed their presence to speak quietly through the lens. There was a deep sense of trust involved in the process, and every portrait felt like a shared moment of understanding, whether spoken or silent.”

Only 40 portraits from Tuvalu were featured in France—the rest are still to come.

A Message to the World

A series of Kato’s portraits were installed this June at the UN Oceans Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, where UN member states, government representatives, international agencies, and civil society convened to address ocean protection and impacts of sea-level rise. The portraits provided a crucial reminder to participants on the human impact of sea-level rise on individuals and reinforced a unified call to action to address climate change impacts. This project will also be displayed in Tuvalu later this year, to celebrate the resilience of its citizens and its efforts to protect lives, livelihoods, culture and heritage.

IInside Out Installation at the entrance of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France,

Upon reflecting on the goals of this project, Kato shares the following:

“Tuvalu faces the climate crisis every day. But what I want the world to see is that we are not just victims of this crisis, we are resilient. We continue to live, work, laugh, and care for one another in the face of uncertainty. Our strength is quiet but powerful.

“More than anything, I want people to understand that we are warriors. We face climate change head-on, not with despair, but with determination. And we are human beings, with hopes, families, and dreams for the future. We don’t want the next generation to inherit this struggle. We want them to live in Tuvalu, in the land that made us who we are.”

Tuvalu’s story is one of strength, creativity, and deep-rooted community. As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, small island nations like Tuvalu offer powerful lessons in resilience and leadership.

Learn more about the Rising Nations Initiative and support Tuvalu’s fight for a future on its land.

See more from this Action here.