The Malaysian Batik Extraordinaire

Batik painting on ceramic tile

My journey through the jungle trail of Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve two weeks ago brought me to the Malaysian Timber Board Craft Center which is located at the end of the trail at the foot of Bukit Nanas. It was raining quite heavily so I made up my mind to browse around the center slowly.

The craft center has many interesting stuffs mostly derived from Malaysia's rainforest timber and plants. You will be able to find Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) root and chipped root, a traditional medicine which can be used as remedy for fevers, fatigue and high blood pressure, or as it is famously known for to overcome impotence, kind off the traditional viagra. You will also find many beautiful wood carvings at the center.

However, the thing which got me interested was the application of batik on wood and other stuffs that batik is not usually painted on. As I looked at the artwork intensely, I was spoken to by this guy in a nice batik shirt who introduced himself as Aziz. So I asked him why do batik on wood? He said it has not been done before in Malaysia (perhaps not in Indonesia as well) so why not take the challenge. In the spirit of Malaysia Boleh I couldn't agree more!

Aziz during our conversation

Aziz talked a lot about batik as a form of art and fashion. He was obviously very enthusiastic and passionate about batik and his new form of batik experiment. I ask Aziz what got him started. He told me that he was working for a business organization for too long. Work became too routine and boring. He had his own food business before but that too became less and less interesting. So a few years ago he decided to quit the boring stuffs and went to Indonesia for a few months to learn batik painting. He had also learned the art from two award winning batik artist in Malaysia.

Another batik on ceramic

Today, apart from experimenting batik painting on different kinds of tropical wood, Aziz is also busy conducting batik painting classes for the locals and tourists visiting Kuala Lumpur. According to him, not many Malaysians appreciate the art.

Aziz has appeared in local newspapers and television so some may have known him already. But what many may not know is that in pursuing something which he is so passionate about, Aziz had taken on the 'road' many of us dare not take. When asked if he is making more money now than before, his answer was "No but I am much much happier in life now than before". I can certainly relate to that.

Happy 51st Merdeka to all Malaysians.