Urban Perspectives

Photographer Patrick Teow, better known by his Instagram handle @heartpatrick, shows us a different side of Kuala Lumpur that has us seeing the city we live in with fresh eyes

- Elizabeth Soong

Patrick Teow wrote on his website, “Kuala Lumpur may not have the most glitzy modern architecture, but the interplay of old versus new is very much alive here as urban decay gives way to towering skyscrapers. If you look hard enough, lying just slightly off the radar of most urban explorers are plenty of gorgeous spots that will make your venturing off the beaten track worth the time and effort.” With a keen eye for discovering the most unusual angles, the intrepid photographer, who’s a former IT consultant, shares his love of photography as he endeavours to show his more than 60,000 followers the hidden beauty of KL and beyond.

It all started from Teow wanting to document his travels throughout the world. From stunning architectural landscapes to capturing the locals in their normal routines, he has built up a beefy portfolio of personal projects as well as commercial, portrait and wedding assignments. “I remember feeling frustrated after returning from my first few trips overseas trying to explain how cool some of these places were, without any visual guides to support my story,” he recalls. “And when the frequency of my trips wasn’t able to keep up with my growing passion, I started bringing my camera to explore our own city, and friends and strangers soon became my subject.”