VCUarts Qatar Holds a Special Alumni Exhibition to Mark its 25th Anniversary

The spectacular display is a testimony to the creative skills of its more-than-1000 alumni spread across the globe

“this Sand is made of Stars/this Sea is made of Pearls – Horizon Historiographies” consists of a curated range of installations and fine art pieces, from paintings, sculptures and clay artifacts to installations using metal, glass, fabric and digital technology

What better way to demonstrate the contributions of a School’s alumni than a display that brings their originality and bold creativity together in a single space? “this Sand is made of Stars/this Sea is made of Pearls – Horizon Historiographies”, an exhibition organized by VCUarts Qatar as part of its 25^th-anniversary celebrations, does just that.

The exhibition, which opened at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art last week, showcases works created by 39 artists and designers who studied at the VCUarts Qatar. Three Art History graduates served as assistant curators for the exhibition. The exhibition will run until December 1, 2023.

“this Sand is made of Stars/this Sea is made of Pearls – Horizon Historiographies” consists of a curated range of installations and fine art pieces, from paintings, sculptures and clay artifacts to installations using metal, glass, fabric and digital technology.

The title, and the manner in which the exhibition is laid out in the exhibition space, were inspired by the deep ties the alumni, and through them, the University, have with Qatar. The exhibition is divided into four sections based on the common themes found among the artworks. The sections are: The Sacred, The Water (Sea), The Land (Sand) and The Self & The Other.

The alumni who have their artworks on display are Amira Mohamed, Ayaz Rauf, Fatima Mohammed, Hazem Asif, Hind Al Saad, Maryam Al Homaid, Nada Abbara, Noora Al Hardan, Sarah Alafifi, Sidra Zubairi, Shaikha al Sulaiti, Aisha Al Sowaidi, Amna Yandarbin, Dana el Ladki, Eman Makki, Habeeb Futtaim, Izza Alyssa, Nia Alexander Campbell, Nour Elbasuni, Wurood Azzam, Majdulin Nasrallah, Dimitri Yuri, Faheem Khan, Hassan al Shehhi, Lauren Morell, Nada Elkharashi, Shouq Al Mana, Yasmeen Suleiman, Reema Abu Hassan, Yousef Bahzad, Bouthayna Al Muftah, Ghada Al Khater, Hadeer Omar, Hana Al Saadi, Hawa Stwodah, Noora Al Saei, Othman Khunji, Reham Mohamed and Dana Riad. The alumni who served as curatorial assistants are Teslim Sanni, Sara Mohammed and Anusheh Zaman.

The exhibition is curated by award-winning curator Hesperia Iliadou Suppiej, Ph.D.

Iliadou, who hails from Cyprus, lives and works in Italy, teaching the MA Curatorial Practice program at the European Institute of Design. A museum consultant, she is a member of the International Council of Museums and the only woman elected to the Europa Nostra Industrial and Engineering Heritage Committee, thus far.

This is not Iliadou’s s first introduction to, or collaboration in, the Middle East. She was part of the Abu Dhabi National Museums (at Louvre Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi) Curatorial Program held in collaboration with NODE Curatorial Studies, Berlin. There, she conducted master classes for their staff on curating and curatorial narratives and worked on expanding exhibitions through public programming.

Iliadou spoke of her experience curating this exhibition. She said, “In my many years of curating major exhibitions across the world, this specific one, organized to celebrate 25 years of the School’s existence in Qatar, has been without doubt the most interesting and exciting of all. Being introduced to the creative journeys of 39 VCUarts Qatar alumni and being assisted by three Art History graduates to curate the artworks was an unforgettable experience; it was wonderful to interact with these gifted and sensitive young talents.”

She added, “The poetic title of this showcase, ‘this Sand is made of Stars/this Sea is made of Pearls – Horizon Historiographies, was inspired by these alumni, their projects and their emotional ties to the country in which they studied – Qatar. Hence, we felt the best way to showcase these relationships was to present their works as a curated series of narratives in a manner reminiscent of the local fables of Al Khor, tales that were once narrated when people gathered around a fire, yet still resonate with those living in today’s digital age. We made sure the visual feel of the space and the variety of installations on display convey this beautiful harmony.”

Hassan Al Shehhi, a Class of 2022 alumnus, and one of the exhibition participants, shared his thoughts. He said, “To me, design is something personal; it’s a creative process that I discovered and explored during my four-year journey at VCUarts Qatar. Those were four years that introduced me to a world of creativity with no limitations. Hence, to be part of the VCUarts Qatar family at an event like this makes me proud; it makes my participation in this exhibition all the more rewarding.”

Lauren Morell, a Class of 2020 alumna and Qatar-based fashion designer, noted how the exhibition brought diverse cultures together.

Morell, originally from the US, said, “When you walk through the exhibition, you see how it creates links between different artistic backgrounds. And this is something very special about VCUarts Qatar; it’s a place where self-expression and creativity are nurtured. For the same reason, to be a part of an alumni exhibition held to mark the University’s 25th anniversary is an honor, especially because it has been a part of my life both during and after graduation. Up until today, I apply the work ethic that I learned during my time here.”