Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Showcases Childhood Memories at Panaga Club Brunei

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim with his painting of Sightseeing in Brunei a nodding donkey in Seria town. The painter, who is also a full-time batik designer, held an exhibition called ‘Nostalgia Brunei 2014’ 
at Panaga Club Brunei, Seria, over the weekend. BT/Ikhwan Salleh

VISITORS at the Panaga Club, Seria, were treated to a window to Brunei’s past through art in Brunei, the works of local painter Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.

Sightseeing in Brunei, Scenic views of landmarks such as the mosques in Kg Ayer and the nodding donkeys in Seria town were vividly captured on canvas with oil and acrylic paints.

The 63-year-old held a a three-day exhibition called “Nostalgia Brunei 2014” (Nostalgic Brunei 2014) in the Belait District where art lovers had the opportunity to study and purchase his works.

Zainal, a full-time batik maker, told The Brunei Times that it had been 10 years since he last painted seriously.

“I started this project early this year due to the interests of the Brunei expatriates and foreigners living in Brunei,” he said, adding the scenes he painted were of the memorable places from his childhood.

“I was born in Seria and I grew up here in 1955/6 before moving to Bandar (the capital) in 1959,” he recalled. “I want to depict the golden days, especially the monuments that still bring back special memories (for me) like the Bolkiah Cinema and the boats in Kg Tamoi.”

Aside from that, Zainal said that he is keen to meet other batik and painting collectors in Brunei and overseas.

If you wish Visiting Brunei to get in touch with Zainal and view his batik creations, visit his gallery, Batik Desamas, at Sg Akar Central, Brunei-Muara District one of tourist attractions in Brunei, , which opens 8am-5pm. If you prefer calling for information first, just call 889 6463.

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/happenings/2014/06/30/painter-showcases-childhood-memories-panaga-club

The New Tradition of Batik Brunei

HAJI ZAINAL Abidin Hj Ibrahim laughs quietly, his hand swatting away my presumptuous question. “No, no. Batik was never a traditional art in Brunei,” he says. I knew that, of course, from his statements in the past about his art but I wanted to hear it for myself. It’s a strange admission, given that batik is fiercely contested as a traditional art in the region.

HAJI ZAINAL Abidin Hj Ibrahim

Indonesian batik has won that “contest” – listed by UNESCO in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanityowing to its proven origins centuries ago in Java, much to the chagrin of Malaysian batik proponents, some who still lay claim as owners of batik and deny any influence from Indonesian batik.

In any case, it’s unimportant to Hj ZAINAL Abidin Hj Ibrahim. He has previously gone on record to pinpoint Malaysian batik’s emergence to its introduction in the 1970s through formal educational institutions. Its ongoing development and emphasis on Malaysian-inspired designs for originality are also how Hj ZAINAL Abidin Hj Ibrahim hopes to grow Brunei’s own fledgling batik industry, an industry that invariably turns to the Bruneian entrepreneur for guidance.

He is, after all, the one that started it all here. The pioneering man has been making batik in Brunei for over a decade. The latter part of his time has been invested into a designing process that uses digital technology, enabling mass production and, therefore, giving more people access to his products.

However, it is still the traditional methods that appeal to him the most. And when students from Pehin Dato Seri Maharaja Secondary School (SMPDSM) came to visit Hj ZAINAL Abidin Hj Ibrahim’s production site in late August, it was the traditional methods that they learnt.

the Brunei student learn how to batik canting

“My preference is this traditional method. It is only after you master the traditional methods can you explore Batik technique. When I design, I mix both and that’s my edge, whether in terms of printing, technique or execution. It’s very rare to find masters of both,” he says.

Naturally, the only way for my trade to be profitable is to reach outside markets, and the response has been very encouraging. In the past three years, interest has just grown, through exhibition requests both local and international. But the nature of digital is mass production and there is some missing aspects from traditional batik. How does batik last for hundreds of years? From traditional wisdom that gives enduring strength,” adds Hj Zainal.

He tells about his latest research that draws on traditional strength: the use of natural dyes. “Even in Indonesia, it’s only starting. Here, I have some knowledge but no practical development yet. Tomorrow will be the first formal discussion about it.”

He refers to his participation in the “Batik Workshop with Natural Dyes” organised by the Indonesian embassy, where he and Indonesian batik researcher would discuss the use of natural dyes in batik design.

“It’s important for us as we can explore our untapped forests in Brunei. Natives of the rainforests have used the “nutrients” of plants to make colours that stay. You can’t replicate the colours from natural dyes. They’re so vivid... I’ve had people from Japan and Korea who love the effect I’ve tried so far.”

But after so long in the business, and with all the interest in his art from Bruneian youth, I ask if his work has truly inspired more Bruneians to pick it up.

“We’ve done many activities to support the efforts of the ministries... while a form of recreation for the youth, it can also show them batik as more than a hobby,” he says.

While I certainly found all the 30-odd students there to be very interested in the event, none of them seemed to express any desire to take up batik seriously.

Rozana Abdul Rahman is the sole “success” of Hj Zainal’s efforts. Rozana, 38, is his assistant, and spends most of the time by the side of his mentor, teaching others and helping Hj Zainal with all of the intricate processes of batik design.

“I’ve been working with Hj Zainal since 2006. My interest in art started from school... you can see my name in the papers, I was champion in many competitions when I was a kid! My hope is that, one day I can start up my own workshop and my own batik. I’ve actually submitted a proposal to an authority,” he reveals.

His seven years working beside Hj Zainal have built up his skill considerably, and he designs small patterns at his own home, using them for his family and even selling a few designs to friends. His involvement has also spilled over into the next generation.

“My first three children are all interested. My eldest (19-year old daughter) although working helps me a lot with my own batik at home.”

If Bruneian batik cannot be truly called a traditional art form, it can in its own right, be considered as a new tradition. And while 12 years of Bruneian batik hasn’t exactly resulted in an explosion of enthusiasts, perhaps the few consummate individuals are enough to carry this tradition into Brunei’s future.

Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/features/2013/11/07/new-tradition-brunei-batik

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Brunei's Batik Designer

"My main interest in doing this kind of business, is not just to survive, but to give contribution to the people and society on what I'm doing" -Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim is the sole proprietor of the batik desamas and one of the leap grant receiver who has given the opportunity to expand his business from BEDB (Brunei Economic Development Board).

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Brunei's Batik Designer

He was a teacher, an artist, a graphic designer before when he started doing the batik business. Fueled by the love and motivation of his family and friends, he started doing batik in the year 2000.

How do you describe your background?

I worked in an advertising company before. I am an artist, I do teachings in school. I worked also in Kuala Lumpur before as a Graphic Designer.
What made you decide to do batik as a business?

The basic thing about batik is I learned it from my own, well it's also because of my background as an artist and designer I guess, that is why when my friends saw some batik designs in Malaysia and Indonesia, they asked me to do batik here in Brunei, but it's not that easy, because you need to consider a lot of things, until I met one guy who are looking for a designer who can do batik, and I am then looking for a team, and then we merged, that was how we started

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Brunei's Batik Designer

Who motivated you to do the business? Or do you have any mentors?
My friends, they helped me to remain still on what I am doing, and of course through the motivation and love of my family.
What were the major challenges that you face in the process of starting up your business?

During the time I started, the biggest challenge then was my financial resources; I almost give up doing the business, but my friends helped me to come back, they gave me money to start again the business. And that is what keeps me moving until now.
One of the challenges I am currently facing right now is on the marketing side, how we promote and market our products.

Brunei Batik

How do you describe the support from your family?

My family doesn't rely on my income; they are the one who's supporting me.
How do you promote your business?

Currently we are using word of mouth to promote our products, also conducting demonstration to various institutional organization and by attending exhibitions. Promoting product on big scale need some solid planning and teamwork, and I am working to build a team to come together on common vision.
Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

Batik is my expertise, so definitely my vision is to bring Brunei's Batik to international market. I am planning foreign collaboration to set up production units. International batik textile is my vision for next 5 years time.

Brunei Batik

Brunei Batik

Whom you will crown the success of your vision?
It will always be the teamwork, because I cannot work alone, I cannot stand alone, there will always be people right behind you who will support you whatever you do.
Do you have any competitor here in Brunei doing the same thing?

Yes. There are also other people here in Brunei doing and designing batik. But still, I don't see anything wrong about that. For me, there is no competition here, because I would like to see more creative people who can do and design batik as well.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Painting

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Painting

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Painting

What kind of advice would you like to give to the society and to the new entrepreneurs who wants to start their own business?
First, I would like to encourage more of the Bruneian to support the batik productions here in Brunei. I would like them to support and market our own local product. And also, I would like to see more batik designers and batik industry here in Brunei. That is actually my vision, that is my I am really trying my very best to teach others so that at least they can understand what is batik. And to the new entrepreneurs, I want them to create something that will give us our own identity, something that is really for Bruneian.
Every entrepreneur has a story to tell, there are stories of both success and failures, stories of how you deal with and overcome all the challenges in life just to be able to reach your goal and vision for the business.

Indeed, Mr. Zainal Abidin has really come very far in his passion for batik business.. In spite of all his hardships in keeping his business grow, he managed and remained still in designing batik

He always make it a point that all his work come from his heart, from his desire to inspire and motivate others.

It's not basically how successful you are right now, it's about how you inspire and motivate other people towards reaching their dreams.

Brunei Batik

Brunei Batik

Brunei Batik

Brunei Batik

source :

http://www.brudirect.com/world/sme-s-corner/10238-brunei-s-batik-designer-mr-zainal-abidin

Learning to Make Batik From Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim Master Craftsman

A TOTAL of 32 Year 11 students from Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Secondary School, accompanied by their teachers, made an educational visit to Desamas Batik factory yesterday, where they were given an opportunity to produce their own Batik.

At Desamas Batik, they met local batik master craftsman, Brunei's batik designer, Haji Zainal Abidin bin Hj Ibrahim who taught the students how to utilise heated candles to wax their drawings, using a toolset called “canting”. Before “chanting”, the students designed their “motif” (artistic drawings) on the four-metre long fabric using pencil.

The group also learnt about Haji Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim’s research on using natural ingredients such as local plants as opposed to synthetic ingredients for the batik.

According to one of the teachers, Rose, the practical trip was very relevant for their Art as well as English classes. Concerning their Art classes, the trip gave the students a chance to practice and experience the making of batik as well as meeting the master craftsman.

It also provided an opportunity for their English classes where the school’s English Department had recorded an interview with Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim for their English listening practices.

“I like to do this kind of things with the students, because it gives them something that is more real and practical. It also gives them confidence in what they can do and the batik they produced will be valued.”

Rose added that the students have already started doing their batik design at school, thus their trip to Batik Desamas was a valuable experience. She stressed that it is important for the students to explore what is happening in Brunei rather than relying mostly on stocked recordings at the school.

In an interview, Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim was delighted to host the workshop for the students at Batik Desamas. He believed that the batik making will not only enhance the creativity of the students but can also teach valuable lessons such as teamwork and coordination.

Brunei Students waxing Batik’s motive at Batik Desamas

Although the programme with students yesterday involved the usage of synthetic ingredients, Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim believed that with the introduction of natural colours in the making of batik, more people will be attracted to purchase batik for its natural appeal.

He also emphasised that batik is a good medium to promote local identities through its motif or pattern designs.

Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim is also providing a workshop on how to use natural resources for making batik at the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam today (August 28) and tomorrow. He hoped that through the workshop, more people will be aware of the beauty of batik’s natural colours.

According to Rose, the top three students will be invited to attend the workshop. The students were selected by the school’s Art Department, based on their mid-year examination results and also how far they have progressed in preparing for their respective portfolios on batik.

Apart from making batik for local gowns, Batik Desamas is also trying to make batik for Kimono and other foreign traditional clothing. In his upcoming trip for an exhibition in Korea, Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim will use natural colouring to demonstrate the process of making batik.

source :

http://borneobulletin.brunei-online.com.bn/?p=110722

Batik Maker, Export is Capital Intensive

A salesperson arranging the batik on display at Batik Desamas' booth at the Made in Brunei Expo at the Airport Mall recently. Picture: BT/Al-Haadi Abu Bakar

A LOCAL batik textile company is seeking extra funds to expand into the export market after establishing itself here for many years.

Batik Desamas, the firm that has fused tradition with modern technology in its production of batik, is hoping to expand into the export market with additional funding from government sources.

The proprietor of Batik Desamas, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim, said that he would not be able to meet global demand without additional financial assistance, even though the business has been export-ready for some time.

"The demand is there. The people out there now recognise Brunei's batik as one of the best in the industry, in terms of design," he said in an interview with The Brunei Times.

Batik Desamas is one of the several companies that is taking part in the "Made in Brunei" Expo at the Airport Mall.

Recently, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim has been experimenting with new fabric, particularly a new type of cotton that has textural qualities akin to silk, and since then has drawn interest from his customers.

In addition, the textile has grabbed a lot of attention from tourists, particularly at its kiosk at Muara Port where international cruises dock.

But, with increased interest comes the challenge of supplying beyond his current capacity, which produces about 300 to 1,000 metres of Batik daily.

A pioneer in Brunei's batik scene, Brunei's Batik Designer, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim had started hand-printing batik since 2000.

The Batik Designer said his business has been doing well in the local scene following its introduction of his Digital Batik system.

His Batik is well sought-after among participants in events and national occasions, such as the National Day celebration.

The system, developed by Zainal through financial assistance from the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) two years ago, applies advanced software and engineering to digitalise his hand-drawn work, which can then be replicated to produce a whole range of Batik products. 

The new system is aimed to allow mass production of his Batik designs, as traditional method of producing Batik is not enough to meet the global demand.

Production has been outsourced to Indonesia and recently, to South Korea, which according to Zainal, has drawn criticisms from some locals.

"Often, the mindset of Bruneians is that when we say that we outsource our production overseas, they made the assumption that we import our products," he said.

Zainal said he has been actively clarifying the misconception, adding that his approach is more cost-efficient, rather than having the whole business operations entirely in Brunei. In his current capacity, the cost of bringing the production facility to the Sultanate would be very expensive.

"A lot of successful companies out there, such as in America and South Korea, actually outsource their production to countries like China and the Philippines, and then export to the rest of the world," he explained.

He said his business model has a better value proposition than his competitors', which mainly focuses on selling imported Batik, as he has full control of design and production.

Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/2013/04/15/export-capital-intensive-batik-maker

Pameran Batik di Galeri Seni, Dermaga Diraja BSB

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Isnin, 7 Januari. - Pameran Seni Lukis Batik Koleksi Jabatan Muzium-Muzium masih lagi di bukakan bagi kunjungan orang ramai hingga 14 Januari ini di Galeri Seni, Jabatan Muzium-Muzium, Dermaga Diraja BSB, di ibu negara, di sini.

KETUA Pegawai Muzium selaku Pengerusi Galeri Seni, Jabatan Muzium-Muzium Awang Haji Ilham Rohaidi bin Haji Mashud berkata jabatannya melalui Galeri Seni akan berusaha memperluaskan karya seni lukis dalam bentuk media batik di kalangan belia dan generasi muda. (Foto: Mohd. Zul-Izzi Haji Duraman)

Sebanyak 45 koleksi Seni Lukis Batik dipamerkan yang telah dihasilkan oleh Jabatan Muzium-Muzium, Bengkel Kakitangan Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) serta Bengkel Penuntut Sekolah-sekolah Menengah.

Pemeran juga adalah hasil kerja tangan daripada Ramsay Ong, Sarkasi Said Tzee dan Awang Zainal Abidin Ibrahim yang mana telah dikumpulkan dari pertengahan tahun 1960an dan hasil daripada bengkel batik yang pernah dikendalikan pada tahun 2004.

Galeri Seni Jabatan Muzium-Muzium dibukakan kepada orang-orang persendirian, persatuan pelukis, agensi-agensi kerajaan atau pihak swasta dan institusi pendidikan untuk menggunakan ruang yang disediakan oleh jabatan tersebut bagi menganjurkan pemeran di galeri yang telah disediakan.

Menurut Ketua Pegawai Muzium selaku Pengerusi Galeri Seni, Jabatan Muzium-Muzium, Awang Haji Ilham Rohaidi bin Haji Mashud menjelaskan bahawa pameran itu antara lain bertujuan untuk memperlihatkan koleksi jabatan tersebut kepada orang ramai di samping mempromosi akan keunikan batik berkenaan.

"Ia juga diadakan untuk meningkatkan mutu seni lukis di negara ini selain meningkatkan pemikiran kreatif melalui seni lukis batik dan menjana kemahiran belia di negara ini dalam bentuk seni lukis," ucapnya.

Jabatan Muzium-Muzium melalui Galeri Seni tambahnya akan berusaha memperluaskan karya seni lukis dalam bentuk media batik di kalangan belia-belia dan generasi muda seperti penuntut-penuntut sekolah dan seumpamanya.

Jumlah koleksi lukisan batik yang berdaftar di bawah koleksi jabatan tersebut katanya adalah lebih kurang 70 buah lukisan.

Perancangan mengenai pameran seni lukisan batik terangnya akan dilaratkan dan dikembangkan lagi pada masa-masa yang akan datang kerana seni lukis dipercayai mempunyai potensi dalam menjana aspek komersial dan pembangunan di negara ini.

http://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/nasional/item/192-pameran-batik-di-galeri-seni-dermaga-diraja-bsb

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

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