霹雳州十八丁（Kuala Sepetang），一个被红树林环绕的渔村，曾经沉寂，如今已成为热门生态旅游景点。游客可探索红树林、养鱼场、百年炭窑，并观赏萤火虫。而这一转变，离不开“看见十八丁”计划的推动。

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让十八丁被看见

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十年前，策展人庄白祺作为外来者来到十八丁，发起“看见十八丁”计划，期望通过社区教育，让渔村的自然景观、文化故事和历史被看见。2014年，她策划了“看见十八丁”社区艺术嘉年华，邀请艺术家与村民互动，尽管初期村民反应冷淡，但她坚持走下去，逐步摸索出适合当地的方式。

 

经历了初期的挑战，团队调整策略，不再专注大型艺术活动，而是深耕社区教育。2015年起，每年举办生态营，让孩子们认识红树林、炭窑与生态系统。尽管因疫情停办三年，至今已举办八届。这十年的努力，使社区逐渐成长，年轻一代开始参与，生态旅游也随之发展。

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永续经营 赋老社区新活力

 

尽管十八丁的旅游业蓬勃发展，但红树林保育与传统产业的永续发展仍面临挑战。炭窑、渔业、血蛤养殖等行业逐渐式微，如何转型并找到新契机，是未来五到十年的重要目标。“再·看见十八丁”计划希望通过结合红树林、炭窑与染色工艺，系统化发展在地经济，为年轻人提供回乡发展的机会。

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十年社造 从心出发炭路去

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2024年，“看见十八丁”迎来十周年纪念，团队以“再·看见十八丁10周年环境与艺术行动”为主题，邀请学者、艺术家与企业界共同探索“炭路”——象征着“探路”的过程。今年1月，台湾云林故事馆创办人唐丽芳启动该行动，3月台湾策展人王昭湄来马交流，一系列工作坊和座谈会陆续展开，推动产业发展与社区教育的融合。

 

其中，艺术家刘启晖与黄秀娟特别制作“十八丁故事旅行箱”，用回收木板拼接成炭窑造型的版画装置，讲述十八丁的文化与生态。此装置不仅象征十年心路历程，也期望未来能带着十八丁的故事走向国际。

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十年成果展

 

社造不能操之过急，改变需要时间。过去十年，十八丁的年轻人开始回流，曾经的志工如今成为团队核心。社区对家乡的认同感逐渐提升，从“我们来自太平”到“我们是十八丁人”，村民的态度已悄然改变。

 

未来十年，“再·看见十八丁”将持续以“社区就是课室，大地是课堂”为理念，让环境教育扎根社区，并结合产业发展，赋予老渔村新的活力。12月21日至29日，十八丁将举办展览、市集与工作坊，展现十年成果，更多详情可关注面子书 lookportweld。

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Once a quiet fishing village surrounded by lush mangrove forests, Kuala Sepetang has now emerged as a popular eco-tourism destination. Visitors can explore the mangrove ecosystems, tour fish farms, and visit century-old charcoal kilns, along with the opportunity to witness enchanting fireflies. This remarkable transformation is largely attributed to the efforts of the "Look, Port Weld" initiative.

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Bringing Kuala Sepetang into the Spotlight

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Ten years ago, Choong Pai Chee, the project director, arrived in Kuala Sepetang and started the “Look, Port Weld” initiative. This project aimed to highlight the village’s beautiful landscapes, cultural stories, and history through education. In 2014, she organized the “Look, Port Weld” Community Art Carnival to connect artists with the locals. Although the villagers were hesitant at first, she persisted and found a way to engage them.

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After addressing these challenges, the team shifted its focus to community education instead of large art events. Since 2015, they have hosted annual eco children's camps, teaching kids about mangroves, charcoal kilns, and the ecosystem. Even though the program paused for three years due to the pandemic, it has now successfully run for eight sessions. Over the past decade, the community has expanded, younger generations are participating, and eco-tourism is thriving.

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Sustainable Growth: Revitalizing an Aging Community

 

Despite a boom in tourism, Kuala Sepetang still faces significant challenges in mangrove conservation and the sustainability of traditional industries. Charcoal production, fishing, and cockle farming are all gradually declining, raising concerns about how to transition and create new opportunities over the next five to ten years. The "Re-Look Port Weld" initiative aims to integrate mangrove conservation with charcoal production and dyeing crafts, systematically developing the local economy and providing young people with opportunities to return home and build their futures.

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A Journey of Discovery Through Charcoal

 

In 2024, ‘Look Port Weld’ celebrates its 10th anniversary with the theme “Re-Look Port Weld: 10 Years of Environmental and Art Projects.” This initiative invites scholars, artists, and entrepreneurs to explore the Charcoal Road as a journey of discovery.

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The program began in January with Tang Li-Fang from Taiwan’s Yunlin Story House and included a visit from curator Wang Chao-Mei in March. Various workshops and forums have been held to connect industry development with community education.

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Artists Low Khay Hooi and Wong Siew Jiuan created the ‘Look Port Weld - 10th Years Storytelling’ Suitcase, a printmaking installation shaped like a charcoal kiln from reclaimed wood, symbolizing a decade of effort while sharing Kuala Sepetang’s stories with a wider audience.

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A Decade of Achievements

 

Empowering the community requires patience. Over the past ten years, young people have returned to Kuala Sepetang, with former volunteers taking on essential leadership roles. The village’s identity has shifted from "We are from Taiping" to "We are from Kuala Sepetang," reflecting growing local pride.

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Looking ahead, the “Re-Look Port Weld” initiative will continue to champion the idea that "The community is the classroom, and Nature is the school." By integrating environmental education with economic development, we are poised to revitalize this aging fishing community.