A Portrait of Change: Bayan Lepas
By Jonathan Lim
August 2017 PHOTO ESSAY
Once known as the rice bowl of Penang, not many would have envisioned Bayan Lepas as the vibrant urbanscape that it is today. Sweeping paddy fields dotted by buffaloes and bunkers from the war used to line the town’s main road. The irrigation network’s countless canals offered fun for the young, when fish fighting and frog catching were common pastimes. It was often referred to as “the other side of the island”, rural and remote.The 1970’s saw it turning into...
Jonathan Lim
Born and raised in Penang, Jonathan Lim’s work as an independent photographer revolves around everyday life, sharing stories of people and places where culture, history and travel intersect. Aside from writing and nurturing a community arts initiative, he is currently focused on two long-term photo projects: documenting the work of an NGO in rural Sarawak and capturing life behind the bright lights of a travelling European circus.
