Celebrating art with UTAR alumna at the helm

The Centre for Foundation Studies of Sungai Long Campus (CFS-SL) hosted an engaging talk titled Art Theory Guides Through the Hand on 18 July 2025, featuring UTAR alumna Ms Lim Zi Jun. Held in hybrid mode with over 400 participants joining both online and in person, the event captivated audiences across both Kampar and Sungai Long Campuses, offering an inspiring journey through the world of fine art, creative growth, and artistic resilience.

A graduate of the UTAR Bachelor of Science (Honours) Architecture programme in 2018, Ms Lim has carved her mark as Malaysia’s first in-house painter for a luxury brand, specialising in hand-painted designs on exclusive trunks. But her journey, as shared during the session, wasn’t always defined by glamour or prestige.

Opening up to the audience, Ms Lim revealed that she did not enjoy painting in her early years—participating in competitions merely out of obligation rather than passion. Her earliest medium was crayons, which she still uses in her art classes at SJK(C) primary schools today. She also dabbles in wall murals, continuing to bring vibrancy to spaces through large-scale artworks.

A turning point came during her Foundation Studies at UTAR when an assignment on value illustration and mapping sparked a newfound appreciation for detail and technique. This challenge helped her discover her potential and refine her artistic focus.

Throughout her talk, she emphasised the importance of theory in art, drawing connections between technique and expression. She introduced key art concepts such as “hand and eye coordination,” and explored fundamentals like hue, saturation and value, demonstrating how these principles can breathe life into a canvas.

Ms Lim also showcased various painting techniques and shared how mastering theory and technique can unleash one’s unique artistic voice. Her session served as a powerful reminder that creativity is not confined by traditional expectations—graduating from UTAR, she noted, opened doors rather than boxes, leading her from architecture into the expressive world of fine art.

In addition to her work in the luxury brand industry, Ms Lim has been teaching children’s art since 2017, continuously passing her joy and skills to the next generation. From participating in flash mob performances during her PJ Campus days to completing live watercolour pieces in under five minutes, her UTAR journey was filled with memorable milestones that shaped her into the artist she is today.

Humble, hardworking, and deeply passionate about her craft, Ms Lim’s story is a testament to how perseverance and purpose can turn early indifference into lifelong inspiration. As she wrapped up the session, Ms Lim left the audience with a heartfelt message, saying, “Not every decision needs to be right. Sometimes doing what you love is enough.”