Bibah's Story

Habibah Zikri or better known as Bibah among her friend, is a textile designer whose breakthrough was attributed to her role in the revolution of songket status into the realm of fine art. Her success was a culmination of some 20 years of professional and personal endeavours.

Born in Sungai Petani, Kedah, life on the other side of peninsular was a vast, open paddy field, where she honed her skill as an artist at the tender age. Even as a kid, she displayed enormous artistic potential that her father would bring her to art and crafts exhibitions in Penang, exposing her to the accomplished works by the late Hoessein Enas, Syed Ahmad Jamal and Latiff Mohidin.

By the time she completed her secondary school, Bibah has excelled in art studies and was ready to move a step higher at the Faculty of Art and Design (FSSR) offered by Institute of Technology Mara. During her four-year stint, she underwent a rigorious art education programme and studied under a number of renowned Malaysian artists and designers including Redza Piyadasa, Sulaiman 'Esa, Joseph Tan, Ms. Chu, Said Abu and others who had inspired her intellectually and skillfully. Her serious commitment to her study in art was rewarded when she won the coveted "Student of the Year Award" by the Dean of the Faculty.