Create Your First Project
Start adding your projects to your portfolio. Click on "Manage Projects" to get started
Menikmati Gurindam
Project type
Batik on Cloth - Hot Wax and Batik Dyes
Date
2023
Size
90cm x 2m (6 pieces)
Menikmati Gurindam translates to Enjoying the poetry. I based my artwork off the Gurindam 12 by Raja Ali Haji, also known as the 12 Aphorism. It is a set of poems consisting of 12 articles and is currently preserved in Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands. Each poem contains life advices, matters of faith, personal character and morals, and societal conduct, which are applicable in our lives. This poem holds significance to my Malay cultural roots, as it was a part of practice and tradition. I decided to translate the 12 poems into 6 batik paintings, each batik depicting 2 poems. It is essential to bring to light its relevance in today’s society, where cultural identity and practices are gradually fading. I hope to rekindle the appreciation for my cultural heritage, ensuring that future generations can draw wisdom and inspiration from Gurindam 12 and, in doing so, reconnect with the roots that define us as a Malay.
