Island creativity for culture, identity, and climate resilience
Mauritius, a tropical island in the Indian Ocean, is celebrated for its beaches, coral reefs, and multicultural heritage. Its population blends African, Indian, Chinese, and European traditions, producing a vibrant artistic scene. But the island also faces urgent ecological pressures: coastal erosion, coral bleaching, plastic waste, and climate change impacts on tourism and fisheries. In response, Mauritian artists and cultural groups are increasingly exploring sustainability in the arts, blending ancestral craft traditions with eco-innovation.
Mauritius’s heritage has long embodied eco-conscious creativity:
Sega & Bhojpuri music and dance: Traditional performances, often held outdoors, connect people to community and nature.
Textiles & embroidery: Handcrafted garments and fabrics reflect cultural diversity, with natural fibers historically used before synthetic imports.
Crafts & basketry: Local artisans weave baskets, hats, and mats from pandanus, coconut, and sugarcane fibers, renewable island resources.
Stone & wood carving: Sculptures, household items, and temple ornaments traditionally use local basalt and wood.
Oral traditions & festivals: Storytelling, music, and cultural rituals emphasize harmony, resilience, and adaptation — values essential to island life.
These practices form a sustainable cultural backbone for eco-art innovation today.
Urban and coastal artists are creating sculptures, installations, and jewelry from plastic bottles, cans, and fishing waste. These works raise awareness of marine pollution while turning waste into beauty.
Mauritian designers are reviving traditional textiles with a sustainable twist — using organic cotton, natural dyes, and upcycled fabrics. Eco-fashion is emerging as part of the island’s cultural tourism.
Sega musicians and contemporary artists increasingly write songs about ocean protection, biodiversity, and resilience, linking cultural identity with environmental advocacy.
Local theatre groups perform climate-themed plays on waste management, recycling, and coastal protection, engaging schools and villages.
Events such as the Porlwi by Light Festival (Port Louis) feature eco-art installations, recycled material designs, and interactive performances about sustainability.
Eco-collectives in Port Louis – creating public art from recycled waste.
Mauritian fashion designers – blending heritage fabrics with sustainable materials for eco-fashion.
Marine-inspired sculptors – using driftwood and recycled fishing nets to highlight ocean conservation.
Porlwi Festival – a major arts festival that regularly features sustainability themes.
Community women’s cooperatives – weaving baskets and crafts from local fibers for fair-trade markets.
Climate change impacts, especially rising seas and coral bleaching.
Plastic pollution threatening both art materials and ecosystems.
Economic dependence on tourism, making eco-art funding vulnerable to market shifts.
Limited recycling infrastructure, restricting eco-art scalability.
Eco-tourism integration: Linking eco-arts to Mauritius’s tourism industry could expand income and awareness.
Blue economy & the arts: Artists can collaborate with marine conservation programs to highlight ocean sustainability.
Youth education: Eco-art workshops in schools could foster creativity and environmental literacy.
Regional collaboration: Mauritius could connect with eco-art movements in Seychelles, Madagascar, and Comoros to form an Indian Ocean eco-arts hub.
In Mauritius, sustainability in the arts is emerging as both a continuation of heritage and a response to new ecological threats. From recycled marine sculptures and eco-fashion to sega songs about resilience, Mauritian artists are turning creativity into climate advocacy. As the island navigates climate change and environmental fragility, the arts offer a powerful bridge between cultural pride, ecological awareness, and sustainable futures.