Alwan is a hobbyist-turned-conservationist with a focus on coastal ecosystems. He has lifelong experience as an aquarist, ranging from terrestrial, freshwater, to marine aquariums— everything in between. His approach to aquaria is to create a complete biological system, in which invertebrates play a crucial role in the overall health of the aquarium. Combined with his creative background, he aims to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity through his photography.

His most well-known works are his coastal biodiversity photo portraits, which have been published locally in two books: Life in Kecinan and Gili Asahan Ocean of Wonders. Both were published by the NGO Indonesia Biru Foundation and Seachange Indonesia, respectively, and they showcase the abundant biodiversity of coastal habitats through up-close, detailed portraits of individual species.