KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Silkscreening is an old school way of adding a design to a piece of fabric or paper but in a world where time is money, silkscreening is often abandoned for the faster and more cost effective digital way to mass produce products.

In Bangsar, Raksasa Print Studio hopes to bring back the almost forgotten craft of silkscreening to the local art scene.The silkscreening studio was started by Indonesian-Malaysian Jane Stephanny and Korean-Cambodian Julienne Mei Tan who met while studying illustration in New York.

Jane Stephanny and Julienne Mei Tan met in New York while studying and they decided to start Raksasa Print Studio in Malaysia
Jane Stephanny and Julienne Mei Tan met in New York while studying and they decided to start Raksasa Print Studio in Malaysia

“We decided to open in Malaysia because it was closer to home. Our families are in Southeast Asia and it is more accessible. There is a growing art scene here. The studio is also a space for artists to come together and work. You can take a class to learn the process of silkscreening or even rent the space by the hour,” said Julienne.

Although the main focus of Raksasa Print Studio is teaching silkscreening, other classes such as papier-mâché, mono printing and relief printing are also offered. “We offer other types of print making classes by collaborating with other artists so that they can teach their own methods of art,” said Jane. Julienne also conducts her own book making class. She also makes and sells her own comics on site.

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The studio is designed as such that only certain types of print making are allowed because there is no ventilation. “Some types of print making use oil-based inks which are not as safe for students in a place without ventilation. When we do silkscreening here, we use water-based inks which have no fumes or harmful chemicals,” said Jane.

You can buy merchandise personally made by the duo at their studio in Bangsar (left). This plush toy by Jane Stephanny has a comical feel to it (right)
You can buy merchandise personally made by the duo at their studio in Bangsar (left). This plush toy by Jane Stephanny has a comical feel to it (right)

At Raksasa Print Studio, they prefer to use eco-friendly ink which is not harmful to the skin and can be used for baby clothes. Most of the materials they use in the studio are sourced locally but the inks are from Australia. “We try to be as eco-conscious as we can because we find that very important. It is a sense of responsibility to reduce carbon footprint,” said Jane.

While studying and staying in New York, both of them were also part of a silkscreen studio. The concept of Raksasa Print Studio is modelled after the ones they saw in New York. Julienne and Jane want to make the studio open to public and ensure that it is accessible for everyone, whether they have an art background or not. They also want to make it affordable so that everyone can do art.

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“Here at Raksasa Print Studio, it is beyond just learning how to silkscreen but coming up with your own design from what you learn and making your own products,” said Jane. The twenty-somethings who are illustrators also do commission work on top of running the studio. “What we design always has a narrative and it tells a story. That is what we learned in art school,” said Jane.

Julienne Mei Tan makes comics like this for Raksasa Print Studio’s retail section
Julienne Mei Tan makes comics like this for Raksasa Print Studio’s retail section

Jane Stephanny’s version of see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil plush toys (left). You either love or hate the interesting designs at Raksasa Print Studio (right)
Jane Stephanny’s version of see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil plush toys (left). You either love or hate the interesting designs at Raksasa Print Studio (right)

Raksasa Print Studio started this January 25 and the choice of the studio’s location was an unlikely one, since it’s right in the heart of busy Bangsar better known for its pubs and restaurants. “We liked the area because it is easy to access and it is close to the LRT,” said Jane.

The founders did a lot of research, looking at prices of rentals. They had been planning this for three and a half years while they were back in New York. The idea actually started back in New York and at first it was an online store.

“We’ve been getting positive responses. People hear about us through word of mouth. Sometimes, people come and just check out the space and then they get interested to know what we do here. It is a space for artists to work, especially if they can’t afford to find a place to work,” said Julienne.

According to Jane, there are more regular people coming in... part-time crafters or designers who want to make their own products. They do art as a hobby and side business while juggling full-time jobs. When Raksasa Print Studio started out, Julienne and Jane promoted the studio by participating in art bazaars.

 The artistic duo at Raksasa Print Studio does unique and outstanding art such as these
The artistic duo at Raksasa Print Studio does unique and outstanding art such as these

There, they sold their in-house merchandise and connected with locally-based crafters. “They use our print studio to make their own products because of the handmade element. If you outsource it to someone else then it is not your own product anymore.

“When you let someone else do it, the first product might be good but then the rest might not be as good. You can’t control the quality when you outsource your products,” said Julienne. Jane adds that, “you get a different satisfaction level when you make something on your own from start to finish.”

Studio rental is available in one-hour or three-hour blocks, and there is no limit of resources. The facilities are available but you have to bring your own products if you want to silkscreen on them. The basics are provided by the studio. Jane and Julienne are there every day to also provide guidance.

At Raksasa Print Studio, eco-friendly inks are used
At Raksasa Print Studio, eco-friendly inks are used

Mixing sticks used during the silkscreening process
Mixing sticks used during the silkscreening process

The energy at the studio is about being creative and having fun so sometimes you can find them playing music and dancing to it! “We want to be able to provide a space for everyone and not just for the one per cent. For people with full-time jobs, it is an escape from life and how can you escape your life if it is too expensive?” said Julienne.

Jane noted that the silkscreening studio is a niche market, which they hope to change in the future. Based on the previous silkscreening classes, Julienne finds that the students do really well. Usually the students get off work at 6pm and they work at Raksasa Print Studio till 9pm when it closes.

They get all kinds of people joining the classes and renting the studio. Raksasa Print Studio also organises a bi-annual special open night, which is an art show featuring a combination of local and international artists. There is also a video installation at the art show. Their recent art show’s theme was Mad Science so the artists had to come up with art work related to the theme.

Here are some of the silkscreening squeegees at the studio (left). You don’t have to be from an art background to learn silkscreening (right)
Here are some of the silkscreening squeegees at the studio (left). You don’t have to be from an art background to learn silkscreening (right)

Despite coming to Malaysia, both of them still have connections with the art circle that they made in New York so some of the international artists invited to be part of the art show are former school mates or friends with mutual interest in art. “Doing this is really fun for the both of us because we can’t work on the same project for very long. We do commissioned work as well and we get refreshed when we do something new each time,” said

Julienne. “We work as a tag team,” said Jane. Besides seeing each other at work every day, they are also housemates so they spend a lot of time together.

Raksasa Print Studio offers classes on silkscreening
Raksasa Print Studio offers classes on silkscreening

Jane Stephanny uses a pressure washer to remove the emulsion from the screen
Jane Stephanny uses a pressure washer to remove the emulsion from the screen

The name Raksasa was coined when they were both in a park in New York. They wanted something with one word and an awesome imagery. It is also very Southeast Asian. “It can be interpreted in so many different ways.

Also, we wanted something white people can pronounce,” said Julienne. The name is also memorable and easy to say. “We like horror and sci-fi so maybe that’s why we chose it. Julienne loves zombies especially apocalyptic ones,” said Jane.

Raksasa Print Studio has all the facilities you need to do your own silkscreening
Raksasa Print Studio has all the facilities you need to do your own silkscreening

Raksasa Print Studio
9-1 (First Floor), Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Open: Tues to Sat, 11am to 9pm; Sun, 10am to 3pm. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
www.raksasaprint.com
Email: [email protected]