By: Yasmin Yusoff
Photo by: Mohd Hasrul Hamdan

SERDANG, March 30 – Galeri Serdang of the Faculty of Design and Architecture (FRSB), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is organizing a KL Sketch Nation exhibition from April 1 to May 1, 2016.

Head of Project, Projek, Dr. Shureen Faris Abdul Shukor said the exhibition was a collaboration between a group of youngsters with deep interest in urban live sketching and architecture and the community.

“This exhibition forms a community network service in UPM’s efforts to involve the campus community with those outside, in particular youths, through arts,” he said.

Dr. Shureen Faris who is also a senior FRSB lecturer, also said that the inspiration to hold ‘KL Sketch Nation’ was mooted from the setting up of Manchester Urban Sketchers in the United Kingdom in March 2014.

“They were actively involved with the private and public universities throughout Malaysia and this cooperation had brought about changes and development not only to KL Sketch Nation but also the ecology of holistic arts movement in Malaysia,” he added.

‘KL Sketch Nation’ has expanded its wing to encompass a new component, also called the ‘Sketch Nation Global’ which gives emphasis in the distribution of similar manifesto in the international scale.”

Meanwhile, FRSB student of Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Khairul Akmal Rahimi Ahmad Kamil, 25, said he started getting involved in sketching since November 2014.

“I got myself involved as I wanted to know more about the community said to have sketchers who were skilful in drafting in architecture. I got to know about KL Sketch Nation through a friend who keeps tabs on its development and activities on the social media, Instagram,” he said.

His friend, Abu Bakar Yusof said the sketching exhibition featured its own uniqueness and artistic value on each and every painting.

“Such an activity helps inculcate healthy living among the youths. The exposure they will gain from this KL Sketch Nation programme will instil deep interest among the young for arts, indirectly helping them to hone their skills and talents as well,” he said. – UPM.