PETALING JAYA: Malaysian batik may be rooted in tradition, but a new generation of artists is proving that the centuries-old craft continues to evolve through fresh ideas, modern designs and youthful passion.
For full-time batik painter Adib Arif Mohd Zamri, 26, what began as a childhood love for sketching eventually led him to discover the intricate world of batik.
“I was always doodling flowers and other things in school. Batik wasn’t on my mind until I watched my sister working on a batik painting project.
“I thought it was beautiful, and that inspired me to study at Institut Kraf Negara (IKN),” he said when met at his workstation recently.
Studying batik opened his eyes to the wide variety of motifs and techniques behind the craft.
“What I love most is that batik is always evolving. We have many patterns, different colouring methods and modern dyeing techniques.
“In the past, natural dyes came from leaves, but now there are newer approaches. That balance between tradition and innovation makes batik exciting,” he said.
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Adib, who is the first batik painter in his family, hopes to continue preserving Malaysian batik while introducing it to more young people.
“Many older batik painters have no one to continue their legacy. I want more Malaysians to recognise the identity of Malaysian batik and understand how it differs from Indonesian batik.”
His favourite motif is akar-akar inspired by roots and tree branches, and he prefers using the traditional canting tool because it feels “like drawing with a pencil”.
Looking ahead, Adib hopes to set up his own batik company to gather painters, printers and natural dye producers showcase the diversity of the craft.
He said batik must continue adapting to modern tastes.
“We need fresh ideas and new products to keep batik relevant for today’s generation,” he said.
Another batik enthusiast Siti Aishah Muhammad Fauzi, 25, discovered her artistic talent long before entering the profession.
Encouraged by her uncle, she enrolled at IKN, where her passion for drawing naturally developed into an interest in batik. Her favourite motif is the dokoh, inspired by traditional Malay jewellery.
“Batik isn’t just traditional clothing. You can apply it to modern fashion such as baggy pants or crop tops. Using brighter colours and contemporary designs will attract younger people while preserving its heritage,” she said.
Although batik is rarely worn in her own family, Siti hopes to change that by introducing the craft to them through her own work.
She has also visited Kelantan to observe its batik-making techniques, describing the workmanship there as “very smooth” and a source of inspiration.
In the future, Siti hopes to collaborate with Adib to develop new ideas that will promote Malaysian batik while making it more accessible through partnerships with other products and contemporary designs.
Together, the two young artists are part of Karyaneka’s relatively new batik painting unit which started two years ago.
Both of them are proud to wear Malaysian batik and have encouraged their family members to do so as well.
