(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha: Alumni from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation partner university, were part of a panel discussion held at the Biblioteca Marciana, Museo Correr, in Venice, recently.
The panel discussion, titled 'A Home Anew - Art as a Refuge; The Contemporary Creative Scene in Qatar', was organized by Art for Tomorrow 2024 on the sidelines of the Venice Art Biennale 2024. The theme aligns with the Biennale's theme of 'Foreigners Everywhere'.
VCUarts Qatar alumni Othman Khunji, Sara Mohammad Al Shafai and Majdulin Nasrallah were the panelists in the discussion. The conversation was moderated by Hesperia Iliadou Suppiej, PhD, Director of the Museums and Exhibitions Study Society in Venice. Illiadou also curated VCUarts Qatar's 25th-anniversary alumni exhibition, 'this Sand is made of Stars/this Sea is made of Pearls' held last year. The discussion was hosted by VCUarts Qatar, with the University's Dean, Amir Berbić, welcoming the gathering.
The panel explored the power of art in shaping and experiencing the notion of home and cultural identity. The discussion was an extension of the work presented during VCUarts Qatar's 25th anniversary alumni exhibition which highlighted the importance of the past in shaping the future, focusing on elements of Qatar's unique landscape and heritage.
Othman Khunji, an MFA in Design alumnus, said it was an opportunity to share the stories behind some of his well-known installations at the discussion in Venice.
He said,“Since 1998, VCUarts Qatar has been a potent movement shaping the creative industry in Qatar and the wider Arab region, from kicking-starting my career with my thesis collection being acquired by H E Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani to currently being a proud alum who's an award-winning artist and faculty member playing his part in nurturing the future of Arab artists.”
Sara Al Shafai, a VCUarts Qatar Art History graduate who currently works at the National Museum of Qatar, said,“Much like the alumni exhibition held last year, this panel discussion acts as a platform that encourages cooperation and active dialogue amongst creatives and art enthusiasts. It is a symbol that demonstrates the progressive and dynamic character of the contemporary art and cultural scene, especially in Qatar.”
Suppiej observed how the panel discussed the notion of cultural identity and the importance of art in times of crisis in the context of Qatar's creative landscape.
She said,“It was a pleasure to moderate a discussion that brought together three exceptional VCUarts Qatar alumni, Othman Khunji, Majdullin Nasrallah and Sarah Al Shafai, to discuss the importance of the creative contemporary scene in Qatar and the role of the University in shaping it."
Othman Khunji is an interdisciplinary conceptual artist whose work ranges across product and interactive installation design. His creations, inviting a reawakening and exploration of social justice issues, have been showcased in prominent venues and exhibitions in Paris, Milan, London, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and the Middle East. Othman is also a VCU 10 Under 10 Award-winning artist and has worked with local and international organizations such as Studio Banana, Virginia Commonwealth University, Brown University, Kings College of London, and Qatar Museums.
Sara Mohammed Al Shafai is an art enthusiast and proponent of creative growth. She is particularly interested in studying the role of language, art and culture in forming individual and collective identities.
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