From as early as the 16th century, spice-seeking traders were known to have laid anchor off Penang for fresh water and supplies. Slowly, then with a gathering pace, waves of newcomers from faraway lands arrived and settled across the state. Some arrived as merchants, others as coolies and labourers, but each brought a little slice of home with them. The state then grew into a cultural melting pot, with its unusual blend of eastern and western cultures most clearly illustrated through its colonial buildings, shophouses, clan houses and places of worship.

Today, this vibrant state in Malaysia is a landscape of the past, present and emerging, with neighbourhoods lending their own local flavour and charm. Hoping to preserve beautiful moments in contemporary Penang in ways that can only be expressed by photography, George Town Festival presents Moments, a photobook that showcases images of unforgettable moments and scenes of Penang with a dose of nostalgia masterfully captured by photographers Patrick Loo, Sean Lim and Yih Chang. These talented photographers have captured the state’s landscapes, traditions, people, and celebrations, evoking elusive memories and inspiring a profound desire to create and capture more moments specific to the Penang experience that lasts a lifetime.

Moments is now available for purchase in stores and online.