17/08/2025

ON SUNDAY August 17, 2025 theSunday Special III

My artistic focus leans towards the decorative arts of the Malay world, inspired by motifs from old manuscripts, textiles, weaponry, jewellery and woodcarving.”

Hafizan

H DIL]DQ LV FXUUHQWO\ ZRUNLQJ RQ D written project and a series of abstract calligraphy paintings inspired by the ÀRZLQJ SDWWHUQV RI 0DOD\ GHFRUDWLYH DUW At the same time, he is also working to expand this art form through a series of workshops for the younger generation, both at universities and online. As the world of art and design continues to grow, Malaysian traditional arts and crafts remain strong, both locally and internationally, thanks to passionate DUWLVWV OLNH (URQLJFD DQG +D¿]DQ 7KHLU work helps keep our heritage alive and relevant for future generations. Whether through batik in Estonia or traditional motifs shared online, they demonstrate that our culture is not just history; it’s alive, evolving and reaching new audi ences around the world.

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“There’s awareness of batik across the continent; however, it depends on which country in Europe we are referring to. As for the Northern Baltic region, many are largely still unaware of the namesake, as they often mistake neon tie-dye ensembles for batik due to a lack of information about 6RXWKHDVW $VLD DQG PRUH VSHFL¿FDOO\ LWV art and culture in the Baltic region. This info was gathered from a recent survey that I conducted under Batiksuutra. There’s also a general presumption and misconception that all batik comes from Indonesia and I fervently aim to bust that myth,” said the artist. Eronigca is currently working on proj ects that aim to promote Visit Malaysia 2026 in conjunction with the Malaysian Embassy in Helsinki and Tourism Ma laysia. She is also responsible for several other United Nations artistic and cultural integration projects, including those with the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Chamber of Cultural Integration and the Tallinn Migration Centre. “Batik is more than just textile art. It’s rooted in history, memory, nostalgia and WKH DFW RI JHQWOH GH¿DQFH DV LW ZKLVSHUV the stories of those who have come and long gone before us. I hope that we could all play our part in preserving this rich cultural heritage with pride, respect and honour for the artistry in the hopes of preserving some of it for the generations still to come,” said Eronigca, full of hope. The decorative art H D¿]DQ +DOLP H[SHULPHQWHG ZLWK YDULRXV forms of art until he discovered Malaysian traditional decorative art, which has since become his focus. Decorative art (seni ragam hias) refers to ornate decorations or patterns commonly found in art and craft, often on traditional objects such as household items, transportation and games. “My artistic focus leans towards the decorative arts of the Malay world, inspired by motifs from old manuscripts, textiles,

weaponry, jewellery and woodcarving. I seek out authentic references to create new works and complete commissioned pieces. I also do my best to maintain the discipline in producing this art so that its philosophy, as the soul of this practice, is preserved as a unique identity,” he explained. The artist uses social media to share brief tutorials as an introduction to this art form, highlighting its unique qualities and market potential. Based on responses and comments on his video posts, decorative art often attracts attention from regions such as Europe, the Middle East and the United States. Many have remarked that the unique motifs of Malay decorative art are rich in variety and exhibit intricate, ÀRZLQJ SDWWHUQV 7KLV XQLTXHQHVV UHÀHFWV that our artistic identity is a mirror of our soul, bearing its own intrinsic value. “I chose this form of art because, at the time, it had not been widely developed. There was great potential to be explored from the various sources available at the time. From that point, I continued to learn over time, thanks to the support and responses I received. After nearly ten years, this art form has started to gain attention from the public in line with the JURZLQJ LQWHUHVW ´ VDLG +D¿]DQ H D¿]DQ¶V SDVVLRQ IRU 0DOD\VLDQ GHFRUD tive art has opened many doors for him, including an invitation to participate in the International Exhibition of Decorative Art and Miniature Painting in Algeria in 2015. It brought together artists from around the world and provided him with valuable early exposure. “For this art to remain relevant, educa tion must be continued and expanded among the younger generation, as they are the future custodians of this heritage. Emphasis on the philosophy behind decorative art is also delivered gradually to strengthen the understanding that its uniqueness is born from the soul of past artists and that we inherit their philosophy to adapt this heritage to contemporary needs,” he said.

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