Statements.

Hakis (sculpturing) II

Hakis (sculpturing) I
Dyes & Chinese Ink on Canvas
90 x 55 cm


“I am fascinated with the behavior of water on silk. With the absence of wax in Batik, water, carrying the dyes with it runs and flows without any restriction. It documents the behaviour of water on silk and the spontaneity of my mood.”


It started with a fascination with what water, as a vehicle for mediums, can do. With a drop of dye, water can carry it around, for as long and as far as it can before it will disappear into the oblivion (evaporate), leaving dye marks on the surface. These series of works are a culmination of many experiments with water-based medium on different surfaces : Paper, canvas, wood... but the best so far was silk.

Dyes on silk, are the materials i chosed to work on for my water series, unconciously, tracing back to my roots and experience as a Malay artist and it's relation with batik.

Having worked on batik throughout my artistic career, I have reached a point where the conventions of batik-making is restricting my art making process. Controlled applications, preplanned designs and perfection is what Batik is. Waxing, stops the water and dyes from staining the silk. I want my medium to take control and be absolutely open to formations, therefore I have shunned the waxing process in my batik works.

Splashes of ink and with water it travels on my silk, stains it upon evaporation.... I have made no plans about how it will look like in the end. The final product is a surprise. Here I present to you my surprises in three different series of my water collections, Abiad (white) series, Hakis(sculpturing) series and Aliran(flow) series.