24/09/2025

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 24, 2025

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

6

Artist utilises dark surrealism as therapy

Single mother pushes clay batik beyond borders and determination, a single mother has carved a place in clay batik art and is seeking greater opportunities to bring her brand Riztiney Batik to international markets. Leveraging her past experience as a clerk at a batik factory, Rozita Harun, 53, set up her own workshop in Kampung Bukit Belimbing, Kuala Selangor and has spent 15 years in the batik industry. “I was a housewife previously, but after my divorce, I decided to build myself up,” she told Bernama at her exhibition booth during the 57th Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre yesterday. Hailing from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Rozita is gaining recognition for introducing the clay batik , an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional batik . “This method hardly uses any fuel and the materials used are only clay, wheat flour and even one ingredient used in baking,” she explained. Compared with the conventional method of batik printing, which uses candlewax, clay batik takes a longer time to dry. However, the process is less risky, making it especially suitable for small-scale women entrepreneurs. Aside from the batik fabric, Rozita is focusing on ready-to-wear garments, such as baju kurung Kedah, Riau and Pahang, kebaya , blouses, cardigans, shirts and blazers. Most are made with clay batik and priced between RM150 and RM350, depending on design and material, she said. She added that demand for her product has been encouraging, underscoring batik’s cultural value as a symbol of Malaysia’s diverse society. Although still operating on a small scale with limited manpower, the mother of four hopes to expand into international markets with sufficient support and logistics. Rozita said Riztiney Batik’s products have even made their way to Japan during an International Trade and Industry Ministry trade mission to Osaka, showing the export potential of Malaysian batik . She expressed gratitude to agencies such as Majlis Amanah Rakyat, Kraftangan Malaysia and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry for their support through training, exhibitions and business guidance. – Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: With creativity

o Paintings represent personal reflections of creator’s inner world, emotions and unspoken thoughts

KLANG: At first glance, the paintings of 29-year-old artist Aiman Zamri may seem eerie, depicting ghostly figures with tangled hair, shadowed faces, piercing stares and multiple sets of eyes. Some even mistake them for images of spirits or mystical beings. But for Aiman, better known as Miman, these surreal artworks are not meant to frighten. Instead, they are personal reflections of his inner world, emotions and unspoken thoughts, expressed through art. “This has been my personal style throughout my seven years in this field. I produce about 40 works such as this every year. Some people find them unsettling, but for me, painting makes me feel emotionally stronger.” Surrealism in art blends reality with dreams, imagination or the subconscious, often producing strange, illogical or dreamlike images. For Miman, who began exploring darker surrealist themes in 2019, it has become a form of mental therapy, Bernama reported. Eyes are a recurring motif in his works, symbols of life and awareness. “Even a stone or statue looks alive when you paint eyes on it. To me, eyes are a sign that we are still here, still strong,” he explained. Among his most iconic works is “The Guardian”, inspired by the form and aura of an owl, which he interprets as a protector of emotions. Created in silence and deep focus, Miman regards the piece as a spiritual process, so personal that he still keeps it as part of his private collection.

Surrealism in art blends reality with dreams, imagination or the subconscious, often producing strange, illogical or dreamlike images. – BERNAMAPIC

Some viewers feel fear, others are moved to tears, while a few are reminded of personal memories. “A buyer once told me that my painting reminded them of a dream they had. Another said they had seen something similar before. Perhaps it is because much of my work is drawn from my subconscious,” he said. Beyond surrealism, Miman also accepts commissioned projects, such as wedding portraits and personalised requests, showing his versatility as an artist.

The fine arts diploma holder, rejecting the notion that his art stems from depression or trauma, said his paintings are shaped by a mix of emotions, such as joy, calmness, confusion and even emptiness. “I do not paint only when I am sad. Sometimes, even when I am happy, I express it in this way,” he said, noting that solitude at home provides the best environment for his creativity. The reactions to his works are often as intense as the paintings themselves.