The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards (KLPA), founded in 2009, has grown into one of the most respected portrait photography competitions in the world. Known for its openness to diverse practices and its commitment to presenting urgent, human stories through photography, KLPA has become a significant voice in the global photography landscape.

Each year, KLPA stages its annual awards exhibition in a different location in Malaysia, bringing international and local perspectives together in dialogue with the Malaysian public. This year, Zontiga is honoured to be a partner and part of the judging panel for the Malaysian entry circuit. We also had the privilege of travelling to Penang for the opening of the KLPA exhibition at Hin Bus Depot (6–21 September). The exhibition gathers winning and finalist works from across the globe, a testament to how photography transcends borders while remaining grounded in lived experience. For us, seeing Malaysian photographers stand shoulder to shoulder with their international peers was a moment of pride.

While in Penang, we explored several art spaces, and one in particular caught our attention, Blank Canvas, where Hong Kong photographer South Ho 何兆南 is presenting Over Mountain Over Sea 又過山又過海 (6 September – 23 November). South Ho, born in 1984, is widely recognised for his sharp yet poetic reflections on social movements, urban transformation, and the fragile relationship between people and place.

What makes this exhibition remarkable is its breadth: it is not only composed of photographs but also includes paintings, moving images, and sculptures made from tin. Tin itself carries layered resonance here. Once a major source of revenue for Malaysia’s economy under British colonial rule, the tin mining industry shaped migration patterns that brought many Chinese workers to the peninsula. This history of movement and labour has deeply influenced Malaysia’s multicultural society, paralleling in many ways Hong Kong’s own colonial past and predominantly Chinese identity.

Coming from Hong Kong, another island city shaped by British colonialism, South Ho’s presence in Penang is both familiar and estranging. Malaysia gained independence more than four decades earlier, setting its trajectory apart from Hong Kong. Yet in Penang, through its architecture, communities, and memories, echoes of a shared history remain. Together, the KLPA exhibition and Over Mountain Over Sea 又過山又過海 remind us of the role of photography and visual art not only as records but also as bridges between histories, places, and people. They invite us to question, to connect, and to see ourselves reflected in others’ stories.

On this Malaysia Day, the history of tin reminds us how deeply our nation was shaped by colonial economies. But independence gave Malaysia the chance to move beyond those legacies and define its own identity; one that is multicultural, resilient, and open to the world. KLPA’s growth from a Malaysian initiative to a global platform, and South Ho’s dialogue with Penang through art, both reaffirm how voices from this region continue to inspire across borders while staying rooted in their own histories.

We encourage everyone to visit both exhibitions:

• KLPA 2025 Exhibition: Hin Bus Depot, 6–21 September
• South Ho: Over Mountain Over Sea 又過山又過海: Blank Canvas, 6 September – 23 November

Two exhibitions, one city, countless ways of seeing.

About KLPA - Website: https://www.klphotoawards.com/ 

About South Ho - Website: https://sixsixho.com/