VCUarts Qatar announces BFA + MFA Exhibition 2023

Public welcome to visit the QF partner-university exhibition that runs until May 20

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university, welcomes the public to the BFA + MFA Exhibition 2023, a display of the work created by this year’s graduating cohort of Fine Arts students. 

The exhibition will be officially open to the public from the evening of May 7, at 4.30 pm. Following this, the public can visit the exhibition between 9 am and 5 pm, Sunday to Thursday, from May 8-20. 

The exhibition is being displayed on the ground floor of VCUarts Qatar’s building within Education City. Visitors are not required to make appointments to view the exhibition. 

The show is a collective presentation of the unique and often convention-breaking work of VCUarts Qatar’s senior students from the undergraduate programs of graphic design, interior design, painting and printmaking, and fashion design programs, as well as the University’s postgraduate program in design.

This year, several students focused on the tangible, from the touchpoint of clay cookware as a way for families to come together and share memories and traditions, to the recreation of the traditional Mesbah prayer counting beads in Islamic culture. Themes of emptiness and time are explored by several others, while others took a creative approach to examine the mysteries of existence. 

Students used a variety of media, resources and tools that allowed them to incorporate techniques such as animation, textile design, silk printing, fabrication technology, visual languages, product, print and website design, typography, home fashion merchandising, building code requirements, 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 Berbic, Dean of VCUarts Qatar, said, “From designs that aid the visually impaired, through ones that raise awareness of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, to bespoke interiors for those with Down’s Syndrome; from designs that explore the cultural identity of the 98 geographical zones of Qatar, others that offer a safe and inclusive environment for children’s learning, to designs for an interactive cat shelter, the creative output of the graduating class of our BFA and MFA programs is a sensitive and profound study of humanity, tradition, community and the eco-systems we live in. 

“Our seniors have explored themselves, their cultures and their environments to bring these complex and creative works together for this fascinating exhibition. This physical show, along with an online presence, offers industry and media professionals from across the globe a chance to view and appreciate the talent and creativity at VCUarts Qatar.”

The Class of 2023 follows in the footsteps of alumni who are making their mark in the four corners of the globe. Some of them have been recognized through international awards – such as the Telly Awards, the Venice TV Award, International Property Awards, and the Red Dot Award – while others have had their work displayed at prestigious exhibitions and events in places such as Doha, Dubai, Milan, Venice, London, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, and Hong Kong. 

To learn more about VCUarts Qatar and its programs, visit qatar.vcu.edu