Behind the Lens: Photographing A Thousand Roses at Cosmobeauté Malaysia 2026

By Joshua Lim, Precious Media Production · Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) · 29 September – 1 October 2026

Some projects are a pleasure to photograph because the story is already there. A Thousand Roses, an art booth conceived and curated by Malaysian contemporary artist Serah Siew, was one of them.

Presented in collaboration with Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo, organised by Informa Markets Malaysia in partnership with HummingDe Consultancy at the KL Convention Centre, the installation asks a simple question: what if expired cosmetics could have a second life?

Roses coloured with makeup

Each rose starts as a white flower handcrafted from paper. It is then coloured with expired cosmetics — lipsticks, eyeshadows and other makeup — used as pigment.

Through the lens, that detail changes everything. The petals carry textures paint doesn’t give: the soft smudge of a lipstick, the faint sparkle of an eyeshadow. No two roses share the same shade, because no two products do.

What the photos needed to show

The aim was to tell three stories in one set of images:

• The craft — close-up details of individual petals, revealing the cosmetic pigments and textures up close.
• The scale — wider frames showing the installation as a whole within the expo space
• The people — visitors, supporters and the team who made the event happen

A trade show floor is busy and brightly lit, so much of the work was about finding clean angles and letting the roses stay the hero of every frame.

Art with a purpose

Beyond sustainability, A Thousand Roses is a CSR initiative. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, a Petaling Jaya–based non-profit supporting people with disabilities in Malaysia since 1993. Knowing that each rose contributes to a real cause made the project even more meaningful to document.

Thank you to Serah Siew for creating such a beautiful concept to work with, and to Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo, Informa Markets Malaysia, and HummingDe Consultancy for bringing it to life.

A special mention to Yin’s Nyonya Bites, whose handcrafted Nyonya pineapple tarts were part of the day. The top pineapple tart brand in Malaysia.

A few questions about the shoot
Who photographed A Thousand Roses? Joshua Lim of Precious Media Production, a Kuala Lumpur–based photographer and filmmaker.

Where was A Thousand Roses exhibited? At Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo 2026, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), 29 September – 1 October 2026.

What is A Thousand Roses? An art booth curated by Serah Siew, featuring handcrafted paper roses coloured with expired cosmetics, supporting the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled.

Does Precious Media Production cover events and exhibitions? Yes — event, exhibition and art documentation photography and video in Kuala Lumpur and across Malaysia.

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