In collaboration with Sony Pictures Malaysia, Arif's illustration brings a local batik touch to 'Venom: The Last Dance', premiering on Oct 24. Photo: Sony Pictures Malaysia
Inspired by Marvel's iconic anti-hero Venom and Malaysia's rich batik tradition, Arif Rafhan (aka Superdoofus) has crafted three movie posters in collaboration with Sony Pictures Malaysia.
Titled The Venom x Batik Inspired Art Series, these posters will be showcased across digital platforms and featured in special in-cinema content exclusively at GSC locations nationwide during the release of Venom: The Last Dance on Oct 24.
The series blends the dark, edgy style of Venom, portrayed by Tom Hardy, with the vibrancy of Malaysia’s traditional textile art.
"Venom has such a striking visual identity, and blending that with batik, which is deeply personal to me and rooted in Malaysian heritage, felt like a natural fusion," said Arif in a recent interview.
"I wanted to create something that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique – a celebration of both worlds."
Arif, a pop-culture and sci-fi enthusiast, is best known for his Star Wars batik art, sampul raya packets (featuring Darth Vader, Optimus Prime, etc) and other batik-inspired creations.
'I wanted to create something that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique – a celebration of both worlds,' says Arif about giving a Marvel character a batik edge. Photo: Arif Rafhan
However, this project marks his first collaboration with a major Hollywood movie franchise.
"Before this, I worked on a concept for another studio, but the project was shelved. I'm glad I finally got the chance to share my work with the public. My goal was to create something impactful for viewers while also showcasing and elevating our culture and art to a wider audience," he added.
The Venom x Batik Inspired Art Series was created for publicity purposes and is not available for sale.
Arif, well-versed in movie poster commissions, is excited to see local illustrators finally getting the recognition they deserve, as film companies embrace their unique talents.
Last year, he illustrated the official movie poster for director Amanda Nell Eu's acclaimed Tiger Stripes. His original poster, designed by Jun Kit and conceptualised by Eu, has also been deftly tweaked for the film's upcoming release in South Korea next month.
One of Arif's batik-inspired movie poster designs for the upcoming 'Venom: The Last Dance'. Photo: Sony Pictures Malaysia
The 47-year-old artist has had a busy year, balancing family life with a growing creative portfolio. He’s kept up with online trends by creating batik-inspired versions of popular memes, like Moo Deng, while also crafting traditional batik sarongs for Kuala Lumpur's recent Keretapi Sarong event.
In August, Arif's work reached new heights with a collaboration with RXP.KL for an immersive show titled Hanya Batik, which showcases Malaysia’s rich history through animated batik and will run until February 2025. His influence also reached beyond Malaysia when his batik-inspired Palestinian flag, displayed at a National March for Gaza in London, went viral on social media.
Currently, he’s working as a concept artist for the upcoming local horror-comedy animated series Kisah Bawah Tanah.
"I'm pushing to finish Kisah Bawah Tanah's first season and preparing for an international publication that also draws inspiration from Malaysian batik," said Arif.
"As for the global response, I'm thrilled that my artwork has sparked curiosity about Malaysian heritage through art."
