Maahara 6: Reclaiming Land, Exploring Home—An Artistic Reflection on the Housing Crisis

The Art Gallery Malé hosted a thought-provoking artistic exploration of one of the Maldives’ most pressing contemporary challenges: the housing crisis. The exhibition, which was held from 5 to 7 November and titled “Maahara: Reclamation and the Housing Crisis”, was organised by Transparency Maldives (TM), and forms part of the sixth edition of the bi-annual Maahara digest by TM, which shines a spotlight on pressing social issues in the country.

The exhibition invited Maldivian creators aged 16 to 35 to interpret this tension, exploring how land reclamation intersects with the environment and identity. Participants were encouraged to ask: How has reclamation affected you or your community? Has it delivered on its promise of adequate housing, or has it harmed more than it has helped? Through their artworks, poetry, and essays, these young voices offered insight into a future shaped by both human ambition and ecological fragility.