Batik Art On The Decline Due to Poor Guidelines

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim, local Brunei batik artists and textile designer during an interview with The Brunei Times. Picture: BT/Quratul-Ain Bandial

LOCAL art veteran Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim has bemoaned the state of the current batik art scene, saying it has stagnated due to lack of proper guidance and instruction for art students.

A pioneer in Brunei's batik scene, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim , 62, has been very vocal about the dearth of talent to carry on the centuries-old tradition of batik painting, made famous by artists like Singaporean Sarkasi Said Tzee and Malaysian Ramsay Ong.

In an interview at his Beribi showroom, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim  spoke about the current batik art exhibition at the Waterfront Gallery, which he called "disappointing".

While the exhibition starts off with works from some of the genre's greats - like Sarkasi said Tzee and Ramsay Ong - and even some of Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim's own paintings, he said the amateur works produced from a series of batik workshops for young artists lacked depth.

"What I saw is very disappointing - not much improvement... I look at student's work and nothing. I don't see any talent or something to be proud of."

"I can't blame the students, it is those who teach it who don't have pure knowledge, or are knowledgeable about the process of batik."

Producing batik is an arduous process which can take weeks, by melting wax on to the canvas before hand-dyeing it a series of colours to create the desired image or effect.

"I think it is their approach whether they are ignorant about the process of batik or don't really care about what is art," said Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.

"Batik is a process of art and here I see no direction at all."

With more than 40 years of experience including a brief stint as a fine arts instructor at local university Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim  has vast experience in batik, from traditional methods to using digital tools to create motifs.

He said most art instructors in schools and workshops are not experienced enough to steer young talent.

"They just see, they just listen, take a one or two day workshop then start teaching people. This may be a good way to promote (batik artwork) but the proper way to do art is you must have a system and be disciplined."

"Of course art can be experimental you can be immersed in different elements. But you must be immersed in art, the proper technique of doing it. That is part of their failing that they cannot achieve quality."

The fact that the Waterfront Gallery exhibition does not display any recent batik paintings since 2004, speaks to the scarcity of quality local artwork, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim  lamented.

"I went the other day and thought this is ridiculous work. If I was a teacher I would fail them."

He said there a few local veteran artists who, although may not use batik as their main medium, are well-versed in the genre and could offer much-needed guidance to students.

"We need to involve veteran artists so they can guide the young ones. These people (students) are creative but they need proper technique. So at the end they produce something subpar or has no meaning and it's a pity."

However, batik painting is a dying art not only in Brunei, but in the region as well. In the past five eyars, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim  himself has largely moved away from batik painting and into commercial textile production as a batik apparel designer.

He has a traditional batik workshop in Solo, Indonesia where he produces his hand-made textiles, and send his digital motifs, created on Adobe Illustrator and other software, to be made in South Korea.

The veteran has participated in a number of international textile exhibitions, including the World Expos in China and South Korea, where he was able to attract the interest of international buyers.

"Most batik artists feel like there is no market for the paintings, so they move into textile batik design. It is a sad truth."

The Brunei Times.
http://www.bt.com.bn/2012/12/23/batik-art-decline-due-poor-guidelines

Batik Artwork On Display

THE Brunei Museums Department launched its collection of batik exhibition yesterday featuring acclaimed Asian artists Ramsay Ong, Sarkasi Said Tzee and Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.

A total of 45 pieces of batik artwork, produced between 1960 and 2004, are showcased at the art gallery overlooking the capital's waterfront. The latest pieces were created by local amateur artists during a series of batik workshops, while the earlier work belong to Ramsay Ong, Sarkasi Said Tzee  and Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.

Batik workshops were conducted in 2004 for secondary school students as well as a one-off session for adults resulting in 29 amateur artwork.

According to Noraidah Hj Nasir, executive officer at the Brunei Museums Department, the exhibition aimed to promote batik among the wider public in line with the department's efforts to preserve traditional artwork.

"The earlier pieces of art were chosen, because they haven't received much exposure lately. We hope visitors to the art gallery will develop a deeper appreciation for the art of batik," she explained.

Until January 14, members of the public are invited to view the batik exhibition. The art gallery is open daily from 9am to 5pm except on Fridays when it is open until 11.30am. On Saturdays the art gallery will open from 9.45am to 5pm.

The Brunei Times.
http://www.bt.com.bn/2012/12/19/batik-artwork-display-waterfront-gallery

BEDB announces The Launching of the LEAP Grant Program

Bandar Seri Begawan, 8 September 2012. The Brunei Economic Development Board (“BEDB”) is pleased to announce the launching of the LEAP (Local Enterprise Applications & Products) Grant Scheme for 2012. It is a program aimed at providing financial assistance to local SMEs, students and researchers to develop prototypes or pilot projects that have innovative technological content, commercial practicality and export potential in both ICT and non-ICT industries.To assist those eligible to prepare their grant applications, the BEDB in collaboration with Coaching Specialist ‘Money Tree’ will be conducting a LEAP Business Plan Workshop at the iCentre on Tuesday, 11th September 2012. More information about LEAP Grant Scheme will also be available during the workshop. Following this workshop, grant applicants approved by the LEAP Program Committee will be required to attend Financial and Intellectual Property (IP) Workshops to attain the necessary financial management skills as well as to develop an appreciation of IP and to manage it effectively for innovation and creativity to flourish. Registrations for those participating in the Workshop will commence at 8:00am on Tuesday, 11th September 2012 and the program will commence at 8.30 am. The Workshop is a full day event with lunch provided. For details on how to participate in the Workshop, please call Diana at 2230111 ext 146 or email to leap.program@bedb.com.bn stating your name, contact details and the name of your company/ organization. There is no registration fee for Brunei SMEs. Application form for the LEAP Grant Scheme is downloadable online at www.bedb.com.bn . The application is open from 15th August 2012 and all completed applications should be submitted no later than 3pm Monday, 8th October 2012 to: LEAP Secretariat The Brunei Economic Development Board Block 2K, Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Ong Sum Ping Bandar Seri Begawan, BA 1311 Negara Brunei Darussalam The LEAP Grant Scheme was introduced in August 2010 and to date almost B$2 million have been disbursed to 14 companies. One of the recipients under LEAP Grant Scheme, Syarikat Batik Desamas had its unique digital Batik Brunei designs have been featured on Korean stamps. Discover Brunei for the iPad by MeSixty Sdn Bhd is an official tourist guide for Tourism Brunei featuring social media integration is now available in the App Store. IKAN System by M& G Sustainable Aquaculture, a project to develop an urban fish farm to fit the budget of micro and small enterprise based on Re-cirulating Aquaculture System (RAS), has already received interests from Malaysia and Singapore. The BEDB is also pleased to note that most of the LEAP Grant recipients have already secured their first customer and some have also received international recognition for their products delivered under the LEAP Grant Scheme. <End of Press Release> Hj Ideris Hj Ali   Senior Business Development Manager   Local Enterprise Development The Brunei Economic Development Board Tel: +673 2230111 ext 182 / 8713170 Email: ideris.ali@bedb.com.bn Diana Ramli Assistant Manager Innovation and New Initiatives Division The Brunei Economic Development Board +673 2230111 ext 146 diana@bedb.com.bn

Art students visit Batik Desamas Sinaut

A total of 30 Art students from Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Mentiri Secondary School yesterday made a visit to the Batik Desamas Factory in Kampong Sinaut, Tutong.

Among the objectives of the visit was to learn more about the art of batik design and to do some batik painting with Zainal Ibrahim, one of the successful entrepreneurs under the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) LEAP Grant.

The students were led by their teacher, Ms Rose.

During the visit, the students were briefed on the history of batik and its development.

It was then followed with a group tour to take a closer look on the batik arts in Brunei.

source :

http://www.brusearch.com/news/113394

Brunei Batik Maker Jumps Into Digital Age

FOR the past five years, local batik maker Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim is so far the only one in Brunei to venture into digital batik making where unlike traditional batik making, digital batik does not require hand-drawing or the molten wax process.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim admits that there has been some debate on the authenticity of digital batik as it is not hand-drawn the traditional way. 

"There is a movement away from traditional batik to digital batik, but some people debate about the orgininality of a digitally-made batik as the patterns are made through the computer, which is considered a machine," said Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.

Overriding such arguments, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim believes the step towards digital batik is just a revolutionary development of batik since its existence hundreds of years ago in Asia. Digital batik making has allowed Zainal's local batik business, Batik Desa Mas, to expand by being innovative using digital designs. Batik Desa Mas was formed in 2000, 12 years ago.

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/features/2012/05/13/batik-maker-jumps-digital-age

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim A Pioneering Digital Batik Artisan

Local batik maker Zainal Abidin checking his batik designs

LOCAL batik maker Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim has made a name for himself when he became one of the few who pioneered into digital batik making. Unlike traditional batik making, digital batik does not require hand-drawing or the molten wax process.

"What was holding back my batik business in the past was the need for batik pattern artists and the ingredients needed to produce the patterns such as candle wax and material. With digital batik I do not need any of these," said Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.

Zainal assures that digital batik making is the same as the traditional batik-making process where the only difference is the design of patterns via digital technology.

"Once the patterns get printed off, we still need to use the fixing of colours onto the material through a steaming process to ensure the patterns and colour will stay. It is a more commercial and technological process than the traditional one," said Zainal.

At 61 years old Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim is able to master software such as Photoshop Illustrator to come up with his digital batik designs. Zainal comes up with his own designs while he prints and produces them outside of Brunei.

"I can say digital batik has allowed me to bypass the traditional needs of batik making process. It ensured the survival of my batik business," said Zainal.

During the 12-year period in batik business Zainal has learnt that batik designs evolves according to the country where batik thrives. Zainal believes and encourages Bruneians to come up with its own unique batik designs that can be developed through instilling local motives and identities. His batik business has been aspiring to do so.

"Batik is not part of the local tradition but we can come up with our own batik designs with our own identity and values. This is what I am trying to do, offering made-in-Brunei batik," said Zainal.

Zainal realises that it is obvious Brunei would not be able to develop batik at a level which transpires into its culture and tradition such as in Indonesia where batik patterns have been noted to exist since the 12th century or even earlier depending on different sources.

"Indonesia has made batik as part of its tradition. Different patterns are given different names. They have a stock file of their own original designs. Batik is part of the Indonesian tradition which would be very hard to fade," said Zainal.

In 2009, UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

Zainal underlined the birth of Malaysian batik in the seventies when it was introduced as a form of art in educational institutions like the then Institute Technology Malaysia (ITM) or presently known as MARA University of Technology(UiTM).

It has been contested whether the origins of batik in Malaysia were brought and taught by Indonesia. However when it was introduced to such institutions it was emphasised the batik designs was to be developed based on more Malaysian designs to ensure more original patterns.

"Young Malaysians then were vigorous towards the aim of creating their very own batik where they instilled designs from the villages around Malaysia," said Zainal.

In terms of batik, Malaysians were more innovative in trying to create their own designs.

Zainal is confident that Brunei has the traditional designs that can be incorporated into local batik designs especially with more alternatives. The batik-making process now is more accessible to wider groups of people with the presence of digital batik making. Zainal now produces his batik design through four different processes; the melting wax process, the batik stamping process, the batik screen printing process and the batik digital making process.

The Batik Desa Mas boutique can be found at the Sumbangsih Mulia Building along Jalan Beribi.

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/features/2012/05/13/pioneering-digital-batik-artisan

BAF's Sunday Seni comes to a close

Expatriates and locals alike trying their hand at batik art during Brunei Art Forum's art exhibition at the BSB Waterfront. Picture: BT/Zatty Joanda

LOCAL young artists from the Brunei Art Forum (BAF) gathered together once again after a three-weekend hiatus to put together an exhibition to continue the art exhibition that was launched last month at the Waterfront Gallery to commemorate this year's National Day.

The art exhibition featured a number of art works that were on display ranging from traditional oil and acrylic paintings of the local scenery to abstract and installation art that was set up by the Brunei Art Forum BAF. 

The artists have drawn their inspiration from 10 chosen words in accordance with the exhibition's theme.

These words include "tradisi" (tradition), "keamanan" (peace), "alam" (nature), "kesegaran" (vibrant), "dongeng" (tales), "kekayaan" (wealth), "tekstur" (texture), "kedaulatan" (sovereignty), "rakyat" (people) and "kehidupan" (life). 

Yesterday's event was dubbed as "Sunday Seni" or loosely translated as "Sunday Art" as not only did visitors of the exhibition had a first-hand try at batik artwork but were also treated to a different kind of art which included poetry-reading and music.

The batik art had an encouraging response from visitors as the batik art classes were held from 10am to 2pm and according to a member of BAF, the visitors still kept on coming to try out the batik art. "We cannot say no to them and we will continue on while our resources are available," said a member who opted for anonymity.

Visitor Lee-Ngee who works for a local private company was at the batik classes accompanying her son, said, "I think it's a really good event. It's definitely a good avenue to promote the talent, their passion and their skills."

Lee-Ngee found out about the event via social site, Twitter and made it a point to pay a visit to the exhibition and stated that she was impressed by the exhibition. 

"To actually organise something like this and to promote it to the community is an achievement, something we should applaud the volunteers. I have learned something that I've not known how to do (batik design) before. You get to appreciate the work but more importantly to get to know the young people with so much talent and wanting to show to the community, it is a culture," she said.

The art exhibition also saw a number of expatriates as friends, Wendy Haldane and Sue Longstaff also had a go at the batik art class.

Wendy Haldane said to The Brunei Times, "We've only lived here for a few months. It's clearly a much smaller place than the UK so we have to look a little harder to look for it (art scene). I can see the country wanting to make an effort to have new and, especially, artistic things. I think think there is a long way to go but there are more ideas that can be contributed by us (expatriates) to help the art scene here."

Agreeing to her friend's comment, Sue Longstaff added, "The woven silk (songket) is absolutely beautiful here in Brunei. That can definitely be made into pieces of art. My son came here during christmas and he is currently doing 'A'-Level Art. He took loads of photographs of the water village and he is, at the moment, translating it into his paintings back in Britain. He is inspired by Brunei."

Yesterday was the last weekend for the BAF's art exhibition. According to the exhibition coordinator, Syen Sofian, "The exhibition has been going from the middle of December and for February since it is in conjunction with the National Day, it is called 'Art Warisan, Heritage Seni' under BAF art exhibition."

He added, "We want people to understand that art is not just what we are doing, painting, sculptures, we have opened a pathway for installation art and other mediums. We invited other groups involved in the poetry scene and music scene to participate today, that's why we call it "Sunday Seni". This is a very casual set-up so they can perform their poetry and music."

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/happenings/2012/02/20/bafs-sunday-seni-comes-close