IARKM is the visual practice of Make Kumar Rai —
exploring photography, sound, culture and atmosphere through cinematic storytelling.

Influenced by Himalayan roots, travel, craftsmanship and silence, my work focuses on memory, texture and human presence.

Based in Nepal - Available worldwide.

Make Kumar Rai / IARKM

White handwritten text reading 'i am' on a black background.
White handwritten text reading 'i am' on a black background.

Nepal

Collaborations Worldwide

iarkmphotography@gmail.com

@iarkm

BASED IN NEPAL

AVAILABE FOR

EMAIL

INSTAGRAM

Silhouette of a person standing on a large rock, pointing into the distance, against a cloudy sky in black and white.

ROOTS

Where I Come From

I was born and raised in the capital city of Kathmandu, Nepal. Surrounded by mountains, rivers, craftsmanship, and diverse culture/traditions carried through generations.
My family has long been connected to traditional handicrafts and the making of singing bowls. Growing up around handmade objects, natural materials, and stories passed down through elders shaped the way I understand texture, sound, patience, and atmosphere today.
Rather than documenting culture as nostalgia, I’m interested in reinterpreting fragments of identity through a contemporary lens — blending old and new, memory and modernity, silence and expression.
These roots continue to influence the way I create, observe, and move through the world.
A shop in Kathmandu, Nepal, named Freedom Export, selling antique singing bowls and related items. The shop has shelves filled with metallic singing bowls, and the storefront displays various antique metalware, statues, and artifacts.
A shop in Kathmandu, Nepal, named Freedom Export, selling antique singing bowls and related items. The shop has shelves filled with metallic singing bowls, and the storefront displays various antique metalware, statues, and artifacts.
A man sitting inside a shop filled with brass, bronze, and metal artifacts and jewelry, with shelves of various decorative items and a cloth with a blue geometric pattern hanging on the wall behind him.
A man sitting inside a shop filled with brass, bronze, and metal artifacts and jewelry, with shelves of various decorative items and a cloth with a blue geometric pattern hanging on the wall behind him.
Two women standing outdoors in front of a rustic stone building, one with a patterned skirt and the other with a beige apron, with a child in the background near the building.
Two women standing outdoors in front of a rustic stone building, one with a patterned skirt and the other with a beige apron, with a child in the background near the building.
Street market with various vendors selling shoes, pottery, and accessories among people walking and shopping, with buildings in the background.
Street market with various vendors selling shoes, pottery, and accessories among people walking and shopping, with buildings in the background.
VIEW JOURNAL / ORIGINS →
VIEW JOURNAL / ORIGINS →
Logos of various brands and organizations under the heading 'Selected Collaborations' on a black background.
An infographic with four columns on a black background. Icons above each column: camera, sound waves, geometric shape, star. Columns labeled: 'Photography' with text about documentary storytelling; 'Sound / Music' about creating soundscapes; 'Visual Storytelling' about visual narratives; 'Creative Direction' about shaping concepts and visual worlds.
An infographic with four columns on a black background. Icons above each column: camera, sound waves, geometric shape, star. Columns labeled: 'Photography' with text about documentary storytelling; 'Sound / Music' about creating soundscapes; 'Visual Storytelling' about visual narratives; 'Creative Direction' about shaping concepts and visual worlds.