Zarina Holmes

,

Perak-on-the-sea

Perak-on-the-sea is an affectionate term I give to the quaint maritime district, Seri Manjung. The Lumut Creative Festival (Pesta Karya Lumut) was a golden opportunity to finally cast my lens on the robust artistic scene in my own hometown.

The last music event I photographed about my hometown was the Notting Hill Festival in London, UK. I did so for a decade, for exhibition and teaching purposes, but mainly to establish a relationship with my community as a documentary photographer.

The sixth Lumut Creative Festival (Pesta Karya Lumut) was the first of such an event that I came across since I moved to the quiet waters of the Malaysian west coast. The festival featured live bands, poetry readings, sustainable art workshops and pop-up shops. I was delighted to see that the visitors were stylish and discerning.

Making zines with the poets from Projek Rebel, Afifah Gentayang, Syafinaz, and Faiz. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

“I wanted to capture everyone in their best light.”

Crowd dancing to Armpunk Syndicate’s performance. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Seaside sartorial. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
The audience. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Arish Mikael’s acoustic set. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Arish Mikael’s acoustic set. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

At first, I only planned to document the poetry event and zine-making experience for pop culture journal, Story Of Books. But a kill switch happened due to ‘technical issues’ midway through the first night’s live band segment. It was confusing and disappointing to everyone involved, because the community was really looking forward to the performances.

Fiery second night act, Margasatwa. © Zarina Holmes.
Alena Nadia of Faye Faire band. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

“I photograph to understand the situation in front me.”

Maddame at sound check. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Armpunk Syndicate. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Zuwairi Nawawi, one of LAKAR event organisers. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Arish Mikael’s wows the croed with his acoustic set. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

The main stage cancellation continued to the second day. So, I decided to do a portraiture of the people who attended the festival. I wanted to capture everyone in their best light. I see the beautiful vision that they tried to create. This is my way of acknowledging and giving respect to the creatives who’d worked hard for the festival and the audience that came to support it.

I photograph to understand the situation in front me. At home, while editing images, I went through each photo trying to learn more about the subjects I captured. As I did so, I felt admiration towards the people that I photographed. What an exuberant community.

Poet Aliff Awan. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Poet Wan Syafiqah. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Story Of Books editor taking down notes. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Backpacking hostel at LAKAR. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Melati Puteh cute pop-up at the festival. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

“I felt admiration towards the people that I photographed.”

Relaxing seaside food scene at LAKAR. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Larwoot Cafe at LAKAR. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Pretty temple lights at the waterfront. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Listening to the band’s soundcheck at sunset. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Lumut Pangkor jetty. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
LAKAR at night. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

Perak is notably quieter economically compared to neighbouring states Selangor and Penang, despite its natural beauty.

It has a brain drain issue. Talents, by that I mean creative, tech and science, had to leave because the ecosystem struggled to meet the vision and intellectual sophistication of the current generation, who are becoming more educated and demanding a better lifestyle.

Stylish visitors. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
DJ Iskandar Mansur. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Ready to rock. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Seaside sartorial. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Seaside sartorial. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

There’s plenty of room for growth but there’s a mountain to climb for Malaysia to reach its high-income nation target in 2027. Cultural events like the Lumut Creative Festival are one of the efforts that could save the state’s economic predicament. It needs the support from the stakeholders and the local authorities to make it happen.

My reportage on the festival for Story Of Books focuses on the community’s fashion lifestyle, artistic subculture and seaside sartorial that shape the unique design direction of the Pacific Southeast Asia.

Margasatwa rouses the crowd at the car park. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Enjoying Armpunk Syndicate’s performance. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Faye Faire at sound check. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
Vibing to DJ Iskandar’s set. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
LAKAR at night. Image: © Zarina Holmes.
DJ set adding fresh vibe to the festival. Image: © Zarina Holmes.

Reportage: Story Of Books at Lumut Creative Festival 2025

Lumut Creative Festival (Pesta Karya Lumut) was organised by LAKAR (Laman Karya Lumut) in partnership with KUASA, an environmental conservation organisation based in Perak.

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/LakarLumut
More on KUASA: www.kuasaperak.org

How to get there: By public transport, take the bus to Seri Manjung Bus Station, then connect to Lumut Bus Station or a short Grab ride to the Lumut Pangkor Jetty.

Be prepared: Bring water and wear a hat to protect yourself from the daytime heat. There are a couple of shower houses here, so you can bring your own bath towel. Also, a picnic mat so you can chill at the park by the sea.

If you’re photographing: Polarising filter or high shutter speed for daytime shooting, because the seaside tends to overexpose your photos. The magic of the seaside, however, happens during night time when the decorative lights and lanterns lit the promenade. Enjoy your slow shutter.

About Zarina Holmes: Holmes is a designer, professional photographer and photography educator. She has documented international dance scenes and performing artists at the Royal Opera House in London, the Dominion Theatre, The Cecil Sharp House and Sadler’s Wells Theatre, to name a few. Her work on the Notting Hill Carnival was exhibited at the London Design Festival.

Lifestyle Photography
Notting Hill Carnival portraits
A trance ceremony in Bali