What first drew @farahmohan to batik was colour. What kept her there was the way the process refused to stay fixed. “You can’t erase it,” she says. “You have to improvise.” That approach now extends far beyond fabric. For the @novakbatik founder, batik is not confined to clothing or tradition. She continues to push those boundaries, applying the craft to tiles, installations, printmaking, and collaborations that place batik in unexpected contexts.
Read the full story at the link in bio.
Words: @haltingprogress
Director: @qilaqla
Videography: @syabilng
Editor: @farnasyhida
Camera Assistant: @nickluthfy
Photography: @innsyirah
Producer: @haltingprogress
Assistant: @jckt__
#graziamy #batik #aesop #aesopmalaysia #aesopsolais
Honoured to be part of this meaningful collaboration with Watsons, and Tourism Malaysia.
Novak Batik created this piece inspired by Watsons’ presence across the country, illustrated through birds in flight carrying Watsons bags, symbolising how the brand continues to reach and connect communities nationwide. Two special sections were also left open for VIPs to complete during the official launch, marking a shared moment in the artwork.
We also created a batik token, presented by Watsons to Tourism Malaysia as a gesture of appreciation for this partnership 🩷
Kantan 🩷
This piece is part of my Menjadi Kita Series, a look at the ways we overlap.
There’s a story in every petal of the bunga kantan. It’s rooted in Malay tradition, yet it’s the very thing that defines Nyonya heritage. I wanted to capture that 'traveling story' here; the way certain things don't stay in one place, but move and take root in new soil.
We often think of heritage as something to be guarded, but to me, Menjadi Kita is about what we’ve traded, borrowed, and grown together. We aren’t losing who we are, we’re just finding each other.
The Minangkabau.
A piece I created last year for my Menjadi Kita series, finally brought to life.
The Minangkabau are known for their deep-rooted practice of adat perpatih, a matrilineal system where lineage and inheritance are passed through the women. Even today, parts of Negeri Sembilan continue to uphold this tradition.
There is a quiet strength in how they honour women.
Names, homes, and heritage are carried through the mother’s line. It’s a way of protecting and preserving the rights of women across generations.
And yet, alongside this, they remain deeply grounded in Islam, practicing the Five Pillars, dressed in modest Malay Muslim attire. The women adorn the Tengkuluk Tanduak a striking headpiece shaped like buffalo horns, symbolising both identity and pride.
If you’re Minangkabau, I would love to hear more about your culture 🤍
We have exciting activities and workshops happening over the next few weekends as part of our “Raya In Bloom” festivities! ✨
Activities:
Bouquet in a Bag by @thebowbox.kl : 5 April 2026, 3pm 💐
Korean Bouquet by @thebowbox.kl : 5 April 2026, 4:30pm 🎀
Batik Workshop by @novakbatik : 18 April 2026, 3pm 🎨
Plus, enjoy 20% off and a complimentary workshop of your choice when you purchase one (1) Immersify Gallery ticket or spend a minimum of RM20 at Immersify Cafe. 🎟️☕️
Come channel your inner creativity with us this Raya season, see you there! 🌙
Terms and Conditions apply.
#EcoWorld #BBCC #Tuah1895 #TheLabs #BloomingRaya
Alhamdulillah, this year we had the opportunity to collaborate with IOI for the Ramadan and Raya 2026 decor across all four of their malls.
Sharing a glimpse of our work at @ioicitymallmy
It took many sleepless nights, but seeing everything finally come together and displayed beautifully in the mall is such a rewarding feeling.
So proud of our team for making it happen.
Thank you, IOI! Definitely our number one favourite mall to visit from now on.
I always think I’m so consistent at being inconsistent. Until I looked back at how much I’ve actually done over the years with batik. Sure, there are times I wonder if I could’ve achieved certain things sooner if only I worked a little harder… but maybe the timing was exactly how it needed to be. Every pause, every detour, every slow step still brought me here and that counts for more than rushing ever could.
🎨✨ Create your very own batik masterpiece with @novakbatik ✨🎨
Join us for a fun and relaxing hands-on Batik Painting Workshop. Everything you need is provided — from painting kit and materials to a wooden stand so you can proudly display your art at home. Just bring your creative energy!
📅 Saturday, 30th August 2025
🕐 1.00pm – 3.00pm
📍 Our In-Store Café
Registration is required with a participation fee of RM120 per person.
Each participant will receive:
– A complete batik painting kit and materials 🎨
– A wooden stand to display their artwork at home 🖼️
– A 20% discount café voucher to enjoy after the session ☕
🔗 Registration is required – secure your spot now by scanning the QR code!
—
📍: Level 2 (Orange Zone), Pavilion Bukit Jalil
📚⏱: 10.00am to 10.00pm, Mondays to Sundays (7 days)
☕️⏱: 10.00am to 10.00pm (last call 9.00pm), Mondays to Sundays
📞: +603-8080 0365 (during business hours)
#bukitjaliltsutayabooks #tsutayabooks
•
•
•
•
•
#artbook #art #drawing #artist #artwork #sketchbook #sketch #illustration #draw #book #painting #photography #contemporaryart #artgallery #artbooks #photobook #artistsoninstagram #arte #books #artoftheday #sketching #bookstagram #instaart #anime #digitalart #arts #design
🌺 Discover Menjadi Kita by @novakbatik , a visual tribute to the quiet, everyday ways Malaysians come together.
Honouring this community spirit with works that weave tradition, identity, and memory — capturing the essence of what it means to belong without losing ourselves.
In every brushstroke, she evokes echoes of the people who shape our society — each story a thread in the fabric of “kita”.
Step into a space that invites you to reflect, connect, and rediscover the beauty of becoming us — and take a piece of it home, with her DIY batik kits now available for purchase.
—
📍: Level 2 (Orange Zone), Pavilion Bukit Jalil
📚⏱: 10.00am to 10.00pm, Mondays to Sundays (7 days)
☕️⏱: 10.00am to 10.00pm (last call 9.00pm), Mondays to Sundays
📞: +603-8080 0365 (during business hours)
#bukitjaliltsutayabooks #tsutayabooks
•
•
•
•
•
#artbook #art #drawing #artist #artwork #sketchbook #sketch #illustration #draw #book #painting #photography #contemporaryart #artgallery #artbooks #photobook #artistsoninstagram #arte #books #artoftheday #sketching #bookstagram #instaart #anime #digitalart #arts #design
This is what happens when you give a local small business a chance.
Finally, I get to share one of the things we’ve been working on, we revamped and made OUR FIRST BOX! Our batik kits are now available at @bukitjalil.tsutayabooks until 2nd September 💛
Only small business owners know how expensive it is to customise your own packaging. No loans, no grants, no big capital, just pure heart and the support from all of you who’ve been encouraging us and actively asking about our products.
Most of our ratings are 5 stars and filled with kind feedback, so it was honestly hard to think of what to improve. But one thing stood out, many of you mentioned buying it as a gift, either for your loved ones or yourself 🥹
So we started the mission to give everyone a full unboxing experience. No more tape and ziplocks like before 🙈 now everything is securely placed in its own pockets, and each box comes with a designed card that matches the design you choose. With our pretty box, it’s like buying two arts in one box 🫶
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Visit us and support lokal! 🇲🇾✨
We took a little break from social media… and suddenly it turned into four months 😅
But truth is, we never stopped working. If anything, we’ve been busier than ever behind the scenes. Rebuilding, rebranding, refining… and pouring our hearts into what’s coming next.
Honestly, we had so many thoughts running through our head. What if people forget us? What if it’s harder to come back? What was meant to be a short break kept stretching on until I realised… it’s been four months!
Some things we’ve worked on didn’t make it into this video. A few clips went missing (thanks to us not posting much lately, 🙄). But still, here’s a little peek at what we did manage to capture 💛
#novakbatik #batikart #batikmalaysia
Started off calm, but things got a bit kalut towards the end when time ran out. Can you feel the anx’ety? 😂
#batikart #batikpainting #novakbatik #batikmalaysia #lacoste #lacostemalaysia
