Postgraduate program in design and senior students from the undergraduate programs
May 5–12, 2024
Education City, Al Luqta St
Doha Qatar
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), the branch campus of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth School of the Arts, in Richmond, Virginia, held its much-awaited BFA & MFA exhibition 2024 recently.
Viewers from various time zones can view the online exhibition here.
The show is a collective presentation of the unique and often convention-breaking works of VCUarts Qatar’s senior students from the undergraduate programs of graphic design, interior design, painting and printmaking, and fashion design, as well as the University’s postgraduate program in design.
Culture, language, identity, mental health, physical well-being, and the environment were just some of the themes researched by the Class of 2024.
Some students explored the notion of cultural identity shaped through memories, highlighting history and heritage, while others examined the implications of displacement and colonization.
The psychological effects of being a third-culture kid (TCK) continued to be a popular topic for investigation.
This year, several projects explored health-related issues. Projects tackling obesity, maternal health, autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and digital over-use underscored the role of design in promoting well-being and addressing health concerns, lifestyle-induced and otherwise.
Further projects drew inspiration from Qatar: the country’s unique marine biosphere and landscapes, ship-building heritage, and the history and significance of its banknotes and stamps.
Students used a variety of media, resources and tools that allowed them to incorporate techniques such as light, sound, video, animation, textile design, silk printing, fabrication technology, visual language, product, print and website design, typography, coding, interior graphics, printmaking, digital painting, screen-printing, lithography, computer programming, and photographic stencil techniques, in their final projects.
Reflecting on the diversity of themes and subjects explored by the students, Amir Berbić, Dean of VCUarts Qatar, said, “This class began their studies with VCUarts Qatar through the early days of the pandemic and their artwork tells their story, inviting each of us along on their journey. The themes of displacement, colonization and duality are found in some pieces, while others encourage exploration of the expat experience, and the questions surrounding the balance between utility, creativity, and personal artistic expression.
“Our students have explored traditions and influences of life in Qatar. Many of them chose to celebrate cultural identity shaped through memories, amidst explorations of audio, linguistic, visual, local and historical heritage.”
VCUarts Qatar offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in kinetic imaging, graphic design, interior design, and painting and printmaking, a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design.
About Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar
Established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation, VCUarts Qatar is the international branch campus of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, a top-ranked art and design school in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States.
VCUarts Qatar is celebrating a fruitful 25-year alliance between VCU and Qatar Foundation that underscores the commitment of each institution to excellence, inquiry, discovery and innovation in a global setting.
VCUarts Qatar offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in kinetic imaging, graphic design, interior design, and painting and printmaking, a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in design. A vibrant community with global reach, VCUarts promises to instill in students a lifelong passion for education and the arts.
VCUarts Qatar offers valuable opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and connects VCUarts to the influential art and design world of the Middle East and beyond. The campus attracts renowned contributors to contemporary visual culture for speaking and teaching engagements, and hosts two major international events: Tasmeem Doha, a biennial art and design conference; and the biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Islamic Art Symposium.
