Singapore Government Press Release

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Mr Yatiman Yusof, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Information & the Arts and MP for Tampines GRC

Mr Ibrahim Othman, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Mr Harun Ghani, MP for Hong Kah GRC

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, MP for Jalan Besar GRC

Mr Sarkasi Said

Ladies and gentlemen

I am honoured to be here today for the launch of Sarkasi Said’s book "Lyrics in Wax".

Mr Sarkasi is an old friend of mine and I have long admired his work. Over more than 30 years, Pak Sarkasi, as I call him, has experimented with a variety of methods and approaches in developing the batik art form. And what he has come to be known for is his use of batik to retain old adherents to the art, and to attract new supporters as well. Through his unique talent, and boldness, Sarkasi has brought the art of batik design to new horizons. His use of vibrant colours and hues, creative motifs and styles, never fails to seduce and impress.

Sarkasi’s designs reflects his cosmopolitan influence which he has brought into this traditional art form. His ability to blend both Eastern and Western influences together to produce his unique form of batik art has transformed the ancient art of batik painting into a world-class art form.

Virtually single-handedly, Sarkasi has enabled what was traditionally a cottage industry to gain an appreciative audience beyond the South East Asian community. After so many years of commitment to this art form, it is befitting that Sarkasi is here today launching a book about his work and a little bit about himself.

‘Lyrics in Wax’ is appropriately named, as batik design itself involves the use of the wax and dye resist method. Each of Sarkasi’s design tells us a story, often a story that needs no words.

Sarkasi has become a familiar name to many, and is also an inspiration to many budding artists, especially Malay artists. He has proven that a traditional art form can remain popular, modern and vibrant as they were a hundred or even two hundred years ago. He has preserved the use of batik in the culture and lives of the Singapore Malays and he has, and will continue, to be an inspiration and role model to many. He is a living example to artists that with the will to succeed, you can, but only with hard work.

In fact, all of us can learn from Sarkasi Said’s spirit of creativity and determination and apply it to our everyday lives. We need to realise that everything we see, hear or come into contact with in our lives presents a challenge to us - the challenge being that nothing remains the same, nothing remains constant - and new forms, concepts and ideas are waiting to be uncovered. Sarkasi has demonstrated to us that they can be uncovered.

I wish Sarkasi Said all the best for the future. It is indeed my pleasure now to launch Pak Sarkasi Said‘s book "Lyrics In Wax". Thank you.