Collection: BATIK PAINTING

The art of Malaysian Batik

At some point in Malaysia‘s recent history, the government introduced a national scheme to encourage workers to wear batik to the office every Friday. Such is the importance of this fabric to the state’s culture and identity.

Similar to other Southeast Asian batik traditions, Malaysian batik uses a wax-resist printing technique and dip-dyeing to render patterns on cloth. But unlike the intricate designs endemic to Indonesia, Malay textiles are more likely to combine large motifs and brush painting.

Most compositions revolve around floral patterns; human and animal depictions are less common, as Islamic convention forbids the use of animal imagery as decoration. A notable exception to this rule can be found in batik painting, where a technique usually reserved for beautifying utilitarian textiles has converged with the world of fine arts.