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

Pengusaha Batik dari Brunei

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim

Ilham dari jiwa seorang pelukis
===========================
Berasal dari Negara Brunei Darussalam, bakat seni lukisnya yang dimilikinya tidak pernah disia-siakan malah digilap sehingga gelaran seorang pelukis kini sudah berubah kepada seorang pengusaha batik terkenal.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim yang mempunyai perusahaan dan mencorak batik dengan hasil kerja tangannya, kini telah berkecimpung lebih 10 tahun dalam industri batik tempatan.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim merupakan salah seorang daripada 11 pengusaha atau pemilik butik batik yang turut serta dalam pameran sempena Malam Amal Anggun Warisan II "Warisan Nusantara" yang diadakan di 1Borneo pada Jumaat lepas.

Batik-batik rekaannya dan perusahaannya juga turut diperagakan di hadapan tetamu kehormat Pengerusi Puspanita Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu, Datin Naimah Haji Hassan yang telah menyempurnakan perasmian pameranitu sambil disaksikan oleh Datuk Bandar Kota Kinabalu, Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim.

Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim berkata, pada malam kemuncak acara itu, batik rekaan beliau turut diperagakan oleh model-model tempatan.

Lebih 20 jenis batik rekaannya dipamerkan pada pameran itu yang dianggar antara RM500 hingga RM2,000.

Ketika ditemui, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim  memberitahu Brunei terkenal dengan pembuatan batik bercorak seperti bunga kuduk, air moleh dan simpur.

"Namun, lebih mendapat sambutan dan menjadi kegemaran para pelanggannya ialah batik muleh kerana memiliki ukiran fesyen yang tersendiri dan asli.

"Alhamdullah...setakat ini sambutan yang diterima dari Brunei ataupun peminat batik di sini (Sabah) sangat menggalakkan...saya sangat berterima kasih," katanya sambil memberitahu ini merupakan kali ketiga beliau mengadakan pameran batik di negeri di bawah bayu ini.

Namun, jelasnya beliau banyak menerima tempahan daripada penggemar batik dari Sabah yang rata-rata terdiri daripada golongan berjawatan tinggi.

Bercerita sebentar bersama beliau mengenai pembuatan batik hasil ukiran beliau, Zainal berkata bakat seorang pelukis yang dimilikinya digilap menjadi satu punca rezeki.

"Kebolehan saya dalam bidang lukisan memberi saya bakat untuk melukis corak-corak batik.

"Dari situ, saya perkembangkan corak itu menjadi sebuah lukisan batik yang menarik." katanya.

Menurut Zainal yang sudah 10 tahun berkecimpung dalam industri pembuatan batik, memberitahu, terdapat tiga cara membuatan batik samada secara tulis/lukis, batik cop dan batik digital.

"Namun, orang lebih suka dan gemar batik tulis/lukis berbanding dengan batik yang lain kerana memiliki keasliannya tersendiri," katanya.

Ditanya mengenai keistimewaan batik Brunei dengan Malaysia, Zainal berkata, ianya tiada banyak beza kerana berasal dari satu rumpun.

Bagaimanapun, dalam melahirkan sebuah corak batik yang menarik, Zainal gemar menggunakan corak Brunei sebagai corak asas namun menggunakan warna berkonsepkan nusantara dan etnik iaitu campuran antara citarasa Malaysia dan Brunei.

Tidak hairanlah, corak dan lukisan batik dari Brunei ini tidak banyak beza dengan batik Terengganu dan Indonesia kerana turut menyelitkan elemen nusantara.

Dalam pada itu, pameran itu turut disertai oleh pengusaha batik dan butik dari Indonesia dan Filipina mengambil bahagian dalam pameran tiga hari sempena Malam Anggun Warisan II yang akan berakhir hari ini.

http://myzatulakhmajanil.blogspot.com/2009/03/pengusaha-batik-brunei.html

Brunei Batik Maker Plans Europe Foray

THE proprietor of Batek Desamas, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim, has struck a deal with a Philippine-based company to turn his designs into accessory items, such as handbags, for export to the European market.

The venture, which is still in the research and development stage, was developed during a trip arranged by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources two months ago to attend a fair in the Philippines.

Some of the batik products of Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim 

Prototype pieces have already been designed, incorporating Zainal’s batik by a manufacturing company in Cebu.

‘‘Design-wise, Brunei’s batik is one of the best in the industry. Malaysian VIP’s as well as Japanese companies have shown keen interest in the batik I produce,’’ Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim, told The Brunei Times. 

However, due to the lack of facilities for mass production, the pioneer in Brunei’s batik scene said, he was unable to meet the criteria in order to sustain a profitable trade with global partners.

There are plans for Batik Desamas to invest in better infrastructure and facilities to meet demand once the deal with the Philippine firm goes through.

In the meantime, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim,  is teaching a few students on the art of batik making.

Batik Desamas is also using batik on furniture to entice the public to purchase its creations.

‘‘Batik can be commercialised very easily... Right now, we’re injecting batik into furniture pieces (such as) standing lamps and curtains,’’ said Zainal’s student, Amir Hj Sapar, who has helped his guru seek new applications for batik designs.

‘‘Brunei needs to create the industry for batik, but our batik needs to seek its own identity. Our designs must be distinct from that of the Javanese and Malaysian batiks,’’ according to Zainal. 

At present, he said for commercial interests, his batiks are Malaysian-inspired, slightly infused with Bruneian designs such as the air muleh (traditional Brunei design) and Simpur flower. 

By educating the public on the art of batik making, Zainal is hopeful Brunei will be able to create its own distinct motif. This, he said, will make local batik more attractive in the export market.

The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/2007/12/29/brunei_batik_maker_plans_europe_foray