Proud local boy: Johan showing the photobook he produced at his home in Kampung Dusun Muda, Kota Baru. — Bernama
KOTA BARU: Not wanting to see Kelantan’s rich cultural heritage disappear over time, a photography enthusiast has been immortalising images of it in photobooks.
Johan Ariff Ismail said he began collecting the photos in 2004 after venturing into the field of photography and becoming involved with the Kelantan State Tourism Information Centre.
“I took photos of many cultural events and heritage in Kelantan for my personal collection, but then I thought about how the cultural heritage in this state was slowly being forgotten.
“So I decided to immortalise the photos in a book.
“So far, I have printed nine photobooks covering every district in the state, including Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Kota Baru, Pasir Mas and Tumpat, while the rest are still in the printing process,” said the owner of a multimedia company when met at his home in Kampung Dusun Muda here recently by Bernama.
According to the 55-year-old, each district in Kelantan has its own uniqueness and attraction, and the process of documenting the photobooks took a considerable amount of time due to him delving deeper into the state’s history.
“I’m currently working on a photobook featuring various interesting areas in the state like Dabong and Lojing, which offer distinctive natural settings.
“I want these photobooks to be more than just a record of pictures or events; I want them to have a ‘soul’ and deep connotations and cover every aspect of the state’s rich heritage,” said the Kelantan native.
Johan said the photobooks were produced through extensive research and using a variety of sources, including Malay classic texts, interviews with locals as well as experts in the arts and culture of the local community.
“Each photobook has 15 major subjects such as architecture, games, garments, cultural performances, customs, handicrafts, martial arts, ethnology and food.
“I hope that these photobooks will not only serve as a reference but also elevate the local arts and cultural heritage and help the Kelantan Malay community preserve their identity,” he said.
