Malaysian Artist Creates 'Star Wars-Inspired' Batik For A Fellow Fan
Woah.
By Tamara Jayne — 06 Feb 2025, 04:21 PM
If you think traditional batik and Star Wars don't belong in the same sentence, think again
Malaysian artist Haris Rashid has found a way to merge the two into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Based in Kuala Lumpur, the 32-year-old full-time painter took on a special commission to create a Star Wars-themed batik, blending iconic sci-fi elements with Malaysia's beloved traditional art form.
When Haris was approached for this project, the customer specifically requested a Star Wars-inspired batik piece. That set him on a journey to bring the galaxy far, far away into the world of wax and dye.
From the get-go, Haris had a vision. He knew he wanted to focus on the original Star Wars characters — the ones that are instantly recognisable to fans.
But there was a challenge: "The challenge was to make it abstract to merge with typical batik aesthetics," he explained to SAYS.
He had to ensure the design carried the essence of batik while still being unmistakably Star Wars.
The final piece features a dramatic duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, set against a vast cosmic backdrop
"The whole batik has an evil versus good theme, set in the vast galaxy as the background," he described.
By blending traditional motifs with sci-fi elements, Haris created something both nostalgic and fresh.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the piece is how Haris managed to capture the glow of the lightsabers — something not typically seen in batik
"Batik can be very unpredictable. It was a challenge to make objects look realistic, but there are a few tricks. I painted from dark to light to achieve the effect," he revealed.
This technique helped him create the illusion of illumination, making the legendary weapons stand out against the intricate patterns.
"Colouring is the fun part," he said, but he admitted that using the canting — the tool used to apply wax — required precision and was challenging.
Turns out, this project wasn't just about fulfilling a commission — it was a passion project, too
"Yes, I am! Stormtrooper is always my favourite, and Princess Leia," he shared when asked if he's a Star Wars fan himself.
Though Haris has explored pop culture in his other artworks, this was his first time incorporating it into batik.
"I have done pop culture artworks on other mediums but not in batik. This is the first, but my batik approach has always been unconventional."
Batik holds a special place in Haris's creative journey. "I picked up batik as a hobby and an extra creative thing to do, as sometimes doing paintings on canvas seems repetitive," he shared with SAYS.
What makes it even more special is that his mother, who studied batik in university, was the one who taught him the technique.
"I am glad that I could shed a bit of light on our traditional crafts in a modern setting, that it always should be cultivated and celebrated and pushed forward into the future," he added.
