VCUarts 2026 Undergraduate Research Award Recipients’ Exhibition Now On Display

Two projects by third-year students Nada Hijjawi and Hajer Jumah, recipients of the 2026 VCUarts Undergraduate Research Award (URA), are now on view through September 26, 2026, in the Display Project Spaces at VCUarts Qatar. The exhibition features Veins of Intelligence: What Is AI Made Of? and Color Gazing, developed with funding from the award

URA is a collaboration between VCUarts Qatar’s Gallery and the Office of Research to support students as emerging artists, scholars, or designers. Recipients receive research funding, mentorship, and production support while their final projects are publicly exhibited at the start of the Fall semester. 

This year’s winning artworks integrated research and creative expression to shed light on topics the students are passionate about. 

In Veins of Intelligence: What Is AI Made Of? Kinetic Imaging student Hijjawi exposes hidden material extraction sites and minerals essential to artificial intelligence and technology infrastructure. Using extraction and mining sites documentation, the project highlights the detrimental environmental impacts of these processes, such as carbon emissions and toxic water pollution which are a result of the severe overconsumption of lithium, copper, energy, and water in technology production.

What started as a classroom assignment, she said, soon developed into a research-based multimedia installation combining documentation, satellite imagery, video, and sound to uncover the realities behind a fast-changing, technology-driven world. 

After being granted the URA in the Spring semester earlier this year, Hijjawi was inspired to bring her vision to fruition, working throughout the summer with the support of her supervising professor, the Office of Research, and The Gallery team. She used Google Earth Studio to develop and present the images and perspectives of real extraction sites. 

“I started with documentation and creating high-resolution images and videos of the sites. From there, I planned to turn them into a cohesive work of art. I learned how to combine research information with visual documentation and artistic experimentation to realize it into a real installation.”

In her research, Hijjawi focused on three main minerals — copper, lithium, and neodymium — which she explained are foundational to hardware production and technology infrastructure. The installation also features a soundscape component that, according to Hijjawi, accentuated the contrast between mixed sounds, such as moving wind, industrial mining, and AI’s narration voice.

“Sound is a powerful addition to an artwork or an exhibition to communicate the concept further. At the same time, it helps ask the audience questions and allows them to interact with the topic,” she explained.

The project further motivated Hijjawi to continue her pursuit of environmental issues through creative work – something she has long advocated for. 

“This is not my first project creating or talking about environmental issues. I think I’m leaning towards focusing and highlighting these issues more in my artworks,” she added.

In Color Gazing, Painting and Printmaking student Jumah immersed herself in the world of color to understand it and, in return, convey that meaning to the audience as a sensory, living experience. She was inspired by color theory, which combines art and science to examine how colors interact and how people perceive and relate to them emotionally. 

“I view colors as if they have their very own presence. It’s spiritual-like in a sense, and I wanted to explore this concept more. I’ve had this project in the back of my mind for a while, and URA was my chance to explore this idea in a safe setting,” she said. 

“Through research, observations, and tubes of paint, the development of Color Gazing was a switch between scanning over academic studies and mixing colors in my studio until dawn. It was a lot of fun!”

Throughout the process, Jumah relied on the guidance of The Gallery team, the VCUarts Qatar’s online library, her studio space, and the allocated budget, resulting in her first-ever installation, Cube of Hue. 

“It was quite difficult to put together. Luckily, I had amazing people to help me figure it out, and the artwork Cube of Hue managed to make it to the final exhibition.”

Beyond developing their projects, Jumah and Hijjawi saw that URA offered opportunities for collaboration, hands-on learning, and communication, and unlocked a world of possibilities for research-based creative work.  

“I learned how to communicate my ideas to The Gallery staff, and, in return, they were teaching me how to manage a project with the end goal of exhibiting it in a specific period. It serves as an insight into how artists and galleries work together at an individual level,” Jumah said. 

Hijjawi said the project prepared her well for similar future artistic endeavors and views the award as an invaluable learning opportunity for undergraduates. 

“This was a great first step to start a high-focused undergraduate thesis. I now have a better understanding of how to transform an idea into a real concept, and to combine artistic decisions with research information,” she said.

“I strongly advise students to apply for this research award. They will have the opportunity to explore their interests – whether academic or creative – create powerful concepts, and turn them into artwork with the phase of research,” she added.

Veins of Intelligence: What Is AI Made Of? is on view in The Gallery’s Ground Floor Display Project Space while Color Gazing is hosted inside the First Floor Display Project Space.