SYNTHESIS

SYNTHESIS features projects by Elizabeth Dorazio, Liane Al Ghusain, Majd Alloush, Mahra AlFalahi, and Fabiola Chiminazzo. For Elizabeth Dorazio, nature is the central subject in the Cosmic Forest in which she questions transforming matter that is random, unpredictable and in constant movement through drawing, a cornerstone of her practice. In I Would Tread Lightly, Liane Al Ghusain presents artworks related to being a Palestinian in the diaspora, which include geometric embroidery, serial sculptures, non-narrative videos, and performances for processing emotional trauma, both individually and collectively. In Mapscapes Majd Alloush examines the intersection of art and technology, exploring the transformation of pixels into tangible objects through printmaking, moving image, and digital fabrication with the aim of documenting the often-overlooked urban and absurd landscapes that exist all around us. Working with textiles, Mahra AlFalahi’s Folded Stories is rooted in exploring the effect of memories of storytelling drawn from her own childhood in which she highlights societal norms and expectations that are nurtured through such narratives. Fabiola Chiminazzo’s work investigates our society’s excess imagery using archival images from photos, books, prints and museum catalogs as a critical tool to propose thinking with and through images in her Encounter Museum. 

MFA in Art and Media at NYUAD
The first of its kind in the region, the two-year Master of Fine Arts in Art and Media (MFA) at NYU Abu Dhabi immerses students in contemporary research and art practices while training them to become deep thinkers and artistic innovators. Courses emphasize artistic experimentation within a context of theoretical, cultural, and historical study. Its multidisciplinary coursework bridges disciplinary skills and diverse bodies of knowledge. The program leverages Abu Dhabi’s location as a global hub for the exchange  and dialogue in the arts and culture as the MFA in Art and Media emanates outward from the Emirates to the world.

Students can choose to work in-depth in a particular area or across multiple arts disciplines, including: Painting and Drawing, Photography, Sculpture and Installation, Printmaking, Fiber Art, Video, Performance and Digital Arts. NYU Abu Dhabi offers state-of-the-art production facilities, and students enrolled in the program gain access to the rich ecosystem of art studios, workshops, and labs on campus and have individual studios that serve as core teaching and research spaces. The program fosters competency in artistic research, material knowledge, creative production, analysis, decision-making, teamwork as well as specialist art practice skills. It ensures core competencies through three main pillars: artistic inquiry, production, and experimentation; art discourse and research; and professional development and leadership. Taught by faculty from across the Division of Arts and Humanities, students study with professors from across NYUAD global network who come from fields of art, art history, film, theatre and literature. Students learn to visualize questions, articulate research and ideas in expansive ways, connect seemingly unconnected phenomena and concepts, and provide valuable insights to the global contemporary and historic condition. Throughout the program, students will have access to local stakeholders and institutions, including in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, including Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, 421, Abu Dhabi Art, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, The Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah Art Foundation, Maraya Art Center, Art Jameel and AlSerkal Avenue, and have the opportunity to receive studio visits from a wide roster of prominent curators and artists.