Traditional Malaysian Batiks

Much have been made about Malaysian batiks. Batik-making in Malaysia had over the years stretched the limit of what should be construed as batik. Modern Malaysian batiks sometimes do not look like batiks anymore - all in the name of so-called innovation. They may as well be printed by machine. And there are those which are just brush painted on the cloths and with a few lines and dots made by waxing!

I am a traditionalist when it comes to batik and if a batik is hand painted then it should be really be so and a work of art.

Anyway, I have always admired the traditional batik sarong and lepas from Trengganu and Kelantan which are block printed and multi-dyed. The making of the design block itself is a highly skilled and artistic output. Sadly this form of batiks are nowadays sidelined, unrecognised works of arts. Just imagine in developed countries like Australia, Europe and the US where any hand-made crafts or artwork are extremely valued and highly-priced. And in Malaysia block-printed batik which should fall into this category are relegated to the lower stratum of appreciation.

I have a whole collection of these batiks bought over the years for anything from RM10 to RM 16 or at the very most RM20 and they always make beautiful and excellent backdrop or decor at my functions.

Here are some of them

See video: http://youtu.be/slp729OJbO0