The Search for 'Identity' in Brunei Batik

On Sunday(31.5.2009) i have a long conversation with my friend Awg Zainal Abidin Ibrahim at his Batik Shop in Sumbangsih Mulia Building at Beribi Industrial estate, Brunei. l have known Zainal since our student days learning Art in Kuala Lumpur. Since then,we have been good friends.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim with his batik product

What interest me to have a conversation today is to ask about his search for an identity in the making of Brunei Batik.Zainal is so keen to develop 'motifs' that can carry something about Brunei. He believes that any artist/batik entrepreneur should develop motifs that are different from what others from any region have shown in their work.lt is only after having our own 'motifs' that we can claim the work as ours.
'How do you start this journey in developing the Brunei motifs in your Batik Art? How do you proceed in this search? What have you achieved so far? These are the three questions that i have asked Zainal in my conversation.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim and his batik product

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim's explanation started by pointing out that Batik can be done by four different ways i.e by hand-drawing batik, using metal blocks, screen printing and digital printing. One has to master the technical aspect before proceeding to the search for content (motifs and design).

The 'content' part of the Batik is where the design lies and the manipulation of design can developed to the finding of 'identity'. Zainal believes that the understanding of Brunei Culture, the society and the practices should be the basis for his search in the Brunei Motifs, After a series of study, he found out that most design motifs in traditional crafts of Brunei be it from woodcarving, weaving and house decorations was mainly adopted from the local flora and fauna. Most of these traditional motifs appear to be used widely in the local culture''.

His second step is to manipulate the shapes of the Simpur flower i.e the national flower of Brunei to become an interesting design. He believes this can bring out some new motifs.ln fact he have done many series of designs from the Simpur flower. Another of his effort is to combine the Cengkeh Flower as another shape in his design. Cengkeh shapes have been used in the local designs. So what is the result of his adventure in incorporating these ideas. ln this post i have put some photos of Zainal's design for his Batik Artwork.

source :
http://diariseni.blogspot.com/2009/06/search-for-identity-in-brunei-batik.html