Members of the public taking a look at one of the art pieces at the exhibition

Project manager for the exhibition, Engeland David Apostol, explaining the concept for one of the art pieces to the UCSI Group Chairman, Dato’ Peter Ng

Group Chairman, Dato’ Peter Ng, officiating the exhibition by tearing away art paper to reveal the “Blackline Effort” exhibition backdrop

Kuala Lumpur, 04 August 2010 - UCSI University’s architecture graduates are at the forefront of the industry for private universities, according to Ar. Abu Zarim Abu Bakar, Chairman of the Education Committee for Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM). PAM is the professional institute of architects in Malaysia promoting the knowledge and practice of architecture.

Ar. Abu Zarim spoke before a crowded room Wednesday, 4 Aug. at the opening ceremony for “The BlackLine Effort,” the inaugural exhibition of work by graduating students from UCSI University’s architecture and interior architecture degree programmes, that was held during a weeklong exhibit at the Annexe Gallery, behind the Kuala Lumpur Central Market.

“I believe UCSI University, under the leadership of En. Mohammad Zani Zain (Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment), has proven that when something is done with passion and dedication, things can come true,” he said.

Ar. Abu Zarim said there are currently 28 architecture schools in Malaysia and believes UCSI University graduates will be among the first to become accredited as registered architects. He said Malaysia needs more architects, as there are only about 6,000 architects in the country while Australia, which has a similar population, has more than three times the number.

UCSI Group Chairman Dato’ Peter Ng also spoke at the Ceremony. Dato’ Ng thanked the faculty and staff for their hard work and perseverance in developing UCSI University’s architecture programme and commended them for the high quality of students graduating this year.

“This evening, we stand tall because we have 24 graduates and every single one of them is employed,” he said. “That is what we have set out to achieve, and which we have obtained. (To our students), you have been trained well.”

“The BlackLine Effort” featured a mixture of artwork, photography, graphic designs and building models, connected by a series of black strings hung from the ceiling.

Graduating student and organizer Nigel Engeland David Apostol said the Exhibit was more “artsy” than a typical architecture exhibit since the students in his class wanted to flaunt their artistic side and distinguish themselves from the public universities. He said the Exhibit’s title comes from the idea that, although each student’s work is unique, everyone starts off with a single black line on paper.

“We wanted to connect everyone,” he said. “The common thing about us is this black line.”

“The BlackLine Effort” will be on display until Sunday, 8 August.