A passion for design

Sunday August 17, 2008

Strong academic credentials aren't important so long as students are determined to explore their creative side at the Equator Academy of Art.
CREATIVITY and passion are the name of the game at Equator Academy of Art in Penang.
Chuah posing beside one of the many Greek sculptures that greets visitors at the foyer of its Leith Street campus. Established in 1987, the homegrown college is fast becoming what founder and principal Datuk Chuah Kooi Yong envisioned it to be — a landmark learning centre in the northern region for young artists."The thing we insist on here is passion. Many students come here with no proper basics in art, but as long as they are focused and are sure that this is what they want to do, we accept them."All students are interviewed before they register. We ask them to reconsider: 'Are they here because they did not fare well in the exams or because they are undecided about their future,'" he said.Chuah, a renowned artist in water painting who is popularly known as Kooi Yong, said that it was pointless taking in students who had no interest in art."Students with a passion for art take only a few months to catch up although they may be without basic skills, compared to those with absolutely no interest in the subject," he added.
"Those who enrol for the certificate-level course will have to start off with drawing, colour studies, working on basic sculptures, 3D figures and print making.
"After completing these subjects, they choose one of six majors for the last semester," he said.
Most students go on to complete one of five diploma programmes — Architectural Technology, Fashion Design Technology, Fine Arts, Graphic & Multimedia Design or Interior Design.
The 1907 Leong Fee Mansion on Leith Street is one of Equator's two campuses in Penang.
All Equator's programmes, including its certificate course in Art and Design, are accredited by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).Chuah's wife and Equator director Datin Pauline Chuah said there was a long waiting line for Equator's students because of their sound basic knowledge in the various aspects of art, design and drawing.
"One of the most important assets a student can have is good drawing skills. A lot of people think everything can be done on computers now, but that isn't the case.
"When one is applying for a job, it's always impressive if the interviewee can come up with an on-the-spot image or design," she said.While many colleges are focused on giving students the widest possible choice of subjects, Chuah said Equator specialised only in art and design and has become synonymous with excellence in these areas.
He added that the college was planning to introduce 3D animation and advertising diploma courses next year.Equator students study in two campuses in Penang — the 1907 Victorian-style Leong Fee Mansion on Leith Street and the modern five-storey Wisma Equator on Amoy Lane.
The Leith Street campus caters to certificate students.
The structure's high ceilings, spiral staircase and two enclosed courtyards provide the perfect environment for young artists to get their creative juices flowing.
After leasing the building from the Christian Brothers six years ago, Chuah ordered several life-sized Greek sculptures made from plaster of Paris that now adorn the pre-war building.
The Amoy Lane Campus, on the other hand, embodies the latest trends in its chic, dark glass-panelled structure."The campus houses the library, the computer labs as well as the photography and architectural studios," Pauline said.Equator, which received the Platinum Award (Top 10) at the Enterprise Awards Malaysia 2007, offers short courses to foreign students and keeps up-to-date with the newest technology as an authorised Autodesk Training Centre."As an Autodesk partner, our students get to use and test the latest technologies before they are in the market," Chuah said.
Equator is a contributor to the Star Education Fund.

TS