Do you remember your first art lesson as a kid?
Was it all rainbow and shine or was it something that you feel distant towards?
Regardless of your memory, art holds a very special place in our classrooms and our societies, no matter where we come from.
Famous American percussionist, Mickey Hart once said, “Art in the classroom not only spurs creativity, it also inspires learning.”
In this article, we will look at various art learning resources and platforms for different age levels and educational institutions in Malaysia.
Public Secondary School Art Syllabus: SPM Pendidikan Seni Visual
If you are looking for a solid start to understanding and analysing the basic visual arts concepts as a student, the SPM Pendidikan Seni Visual is a decent place to start.
That's because students in public schools will go through a series of mandatory lessons during their lower secondary years (Form 1 to Form 3). They then get to take the subject as an elective or a generic subject depending on their learning streams during their upper secondary level (Form 4 and Form 5).
Important note: The format and exam syllabus for this subject is based on Form 4 and Form 5.
The themes that are covered include:
History and visual art appreciation [Sejarah dan Apresiasi Seni Visual]
- Royal Regalia and Decorations
- Architecture and Painting
Fine art [Seni halus]
- Painting Art
- Printing Art
- Sculpture Art
Photo by Bagus Wihardana on Unsplash
Design [Reka Bentuk]
- Landscape Design
- Interior Design
- Industrial Design
Craft art [Seni kraf]
- Carving Art
- Batik Art
Visual communication [Komunikasi Visual]
- Graphic Design (Illustration)
- Photography Art (Photography Genre)
- Graphic Design (Infographics)
- Photography Art (Image Manipulation & e-Portfolio)
The final grade for your SPM Pendidikan Seni Visual will be derived from three papers. The first paper consists of objective questions (theoretical assessment), the second paper requires candidates to create a fine art drawing from scratch and the final paper is a school-based coursework assessment on art design.
Having said that, students who take this subject will have a slight advantage (especially as they go through pre-university or undergraduate studies) when it comes to basic theoretical and practical mastery of visual arts.
Students can also more or less gauge their interest and consider their art specialisations (fine art, graphic design, fashion design, illustration, interior design) based on what they have learnt at this level.
Learn more about applying various art movements and styles in your future artwork.
Pre-University Art Syllabus: STPM Seni Visual
Upon your secondary school graduation, Form Six students can continue to take visual arts as a subject at the STPM level.
For three semesters, students will learn about the following themes and topics:
Introduction to Visual Arts [Semester 1]
- Definition of Visual Arts
- Creation and Designing
- Appreciation
- Roles of Visual Arts
- Role of Psychology
- Role of Sociology
- Patronage
Forms of Visual Arts [Semester 2]
- Subject
- Still Life
- Formal Aspects
- Elements of Art and Principles of Design
- Media and Techniques
- Content and Context
- Meaning
- Function
Historical Background and Criticism of Visual Arts [Semester 3]
- Definition of Visual Arts Criticism
- Objectives of Visual Arts Criticism
- Approaches to Visual Arts Criticism
- Strategies of Visual Arts Criticism
In terms of examination format, students are required to answer structured and essay questions, practical art assessment as well as school-based coursework assessment.
Both the SPM and STPM Seni Visual subjects are taught and assessed in the Malay language. Not to mention that they are the two most affordable art learning resources that you can ever get as a Malaysian student. They're basically free!
So what are you waiting for, students? Seize this opportunity to learn as much as you can.
International School Art Learning Pathway: International Baccalaureate(IB) Visual Arts
Visual arts is a subject that is not only offered in public schools but also in international schools in Malaysia.
The three main focuses of the IB Visual Arts syllabus are visual arts in context, visual arts methods and communicating visual arts.
Students will be trained to create and engage with arts through a series of theoretical, art-making, and curatorial practices.
Continue reading to review some examples of learning outcomes that students experience under these practices.
Theoretical practice
- Students examine and compare the work of artists from different cultural contexts.
- Students investigate and compare how and why different techniques have evolved and the processes involved.
- Students explore ways of communicating through visual and written means.
Art-making practice
- Students apply identified techniques to their developing work.
- Students develop concepts through processes informed by skills, techniques and media.
- Students produce a body of artwork through a process of reflection and evaluation, showing a synthesis of skill, media and concept.
Photo by Tim Arterbury on Unsplash
Curatorial practice
- Students begin to formulate personal intentions for creating and displaying their artworks.
- Students consider the nature of “exhibition” and think about the process of selection and the potential impact of their work on different audiences.
- Students discuss how artistic judgments impact the overall presentation.
You can tell that the syllabus is designed to cultivate creativity, solid technical and artistic skills, critical thinking and art appreciation. For example, students get to dive deep into the artwork of Picasso and his contributions to contemporary art today.
Higher Learning Institutions That Offer Arts-Related Programmes in Malaysia
After completing your secondary studies and pre-university studies, you are now ready for a whole set of new adventures.
Hey, welcome to university life!
For those of you who are keen to take your passion for arts to the next level, here are some higher-learning universities that offer amazing art-related programmes.
Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA)
Located at Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, MIA has a list of comprehensive art specialisation programmes ranging from certificate level, diploma level and degree level.
Whether it's Certificate in Art and Design, Diploma in Fine Art, Diploma in Graphic Design, to Diploma in Interior Design, there's always a programme for you.
Important tip: It's best to look through the entry requirements for the programmes in different institutions before you submit your application.
For instance, when it comes to admission to the Diploma in Fine Art at MIA, applicants are required to have at least 3 credits for their SPM and submit two A4 size drawings for an application review.
The One Academy
The One Academy is certainly a household name for art learning academies in Malaysia. It has a series of diploma programmes in fine art, digital animation, visual effects, illustration, advertising and graphic design, interior design and so on.
Now, let's look at what makes The One Academy different from MIA. Of course, the course syllabus might differ a little but the actual answer lies in the entry requirements.
Apart from the usual credits in SPM, there is also a special note for those who desire to major in final arts.
Applicants need to pass a portfolio review or Drawing Test conducted by The One Academy for candidates who do not have a Pass in the Art subject or without an art subject at the SPM level or its equivalent.
This is precisely why we begin this article with an overview of the Visual Art subject at public and international schools in Malaysia.
Taking and passing an Art subject during your secondary school level gives you an edge over the rest. You get to save lots of time during your application process.
National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage (ASWARA)
Last but not least, let us introduce you to ASWARA.
At ASWARA, you can dive deep into the world of arts in three main programmes:
- Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design
- Diploma of Fine Arts
- Diploma in Visual Communication Design
Art review tests will be conducted as you submit your application too. That's why we highly recommend students to familiarise themselves with different art styles, art history and artwork techniques beforehand.
Remember, your journey to mastery begins with a single step. At times, your first step may look like your first Visual Art lesson in school.
As you expand your knowledge and hone your craft, you might be able to create a masterpiece like some of the greatest artworks in the world. Truly, the sky is the limit.
Explore Arts As A Hobby With A Superprof Tutor
We understand that some of you might prefer to enjoy arts as a hobby instead of turning it into a professional career. That's great too.
Regardless of your current level, you can always enjoy flexible and interactive art lessons in Malaysia.
Private tutoring is one way to make this work because you get to choose your learning location, learning specialisation, the rate of your lessons, and yes, even the art tutor personally!
At Superprof, you can find the perfect art tutor with ease. All you need to do is head to the Superprof Malaysia homepage and start browsing the profiles of various art tutors across the country. Yes, everything in just a few clicks!
Image by Freepik
From there, you can continue to review the basic information of the tutors and once you have made up your mind, you can proceed to contact them via the messaging feature.
Learning art with a Superprof tutor gives you more flexibility in terms of time management and also learning specialisations.
In other words, you can choose to take online art lessons at home to save time or request to learn about various artists and their journeys to make an impact in the world of art. You can enjoy art lessons as a school student, a working adult or even a retiree!
At Superprof, you can learn anything and everything at your own pace. It's certainly a good investment if you ask us.
We hope this article has been an insightful guide when it comes to accessing various art learning resources professionally and as a hobby in Malaysia.
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