Nicola Ducati, a travel photographer, has created a captivating photographic project titled Sikerei: We Are Lost Together, set in the remote Mentawai Islands, 150 km off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The project aims to capture the essence of a people living in isolation from the modern world—the Sikerei—who to this day maintain a lifestyle and ancestral traditions dating back to ancient times.

Immersed in a misty, primordial forest, the Sikerei represent a rare example of living in harmony and symbiosis with nature, far removed from the distractions and pressures of modernity. Ducati portrays the inhabitants of this island as witnesses to a peaceful and authentic way of life, now threatened by external forces. However, it hasn’t always been easy: colonial rule and indifferent governments have made survival challenging. Despite finding refuge in isolated lands, the Sikerei now face new dangers: deforestation caused by the energy industry and palm oil multinationals, as well as the dramatic effects of climate change.

Through his photographs, Ducati captures the stillness and dignity of the Sikerei, presenting them in static, timeless poses, almost symbolizing their inability to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The suspended atmosphere and natural light create images that are both delicate and powerful, depicting their deep connection to the nature surrounding them, which they both nurture and protect. Yet, that same nature, once a safe haven, is slowly fading, turning into a looming threat.

In Ducati’s photos, the visual contrast is evident. While the human subjects are still and clear, the surrounding world appears blurred and in motion. This interplay between stillness and dynamism symbolizes the inevitable transition between the Sikerei’s present—frozen and fragile—and a future slipping out of their control. The forest, which has always been stable and familiar to them, dissolves in the images, hinting at the danger of its disappearance.

With Sikerei: We Are Lost Together, Nicola Ducati not only visually documents the life of a people on the margins of the world but also prompts deep reflection. The fate of the Sikerei, with their vanishing traditions, becomes a call for collective responsibility. According to the photographer, their struggle against the loss of their culture is a warning for humanity: their disappearance would also mean the loss of ancient knowledge and an irreplaceable bond with nature.

ph. courtesy Nicola Ducati