Art by Abdulrahman Al Suwaidi
Art by Abdulrahman Al Suwaidi
Art by Fatima Al Hashmi
Art by Fatma Al Falahi
Art by Hessa Al Shehhi
Art by Huda Al Shehhi
Art by Mohammed Khan
The two-week exhibition showcased 13 artworks created by KU students who participated in a workshop hosted by Abu Dhabi Art earlier this year.
Artwork by students who completed the Art + Technology Program were displayed in an exhibit on the Ground Floor of Building E & D at the Main Campus from October 17 to 30, 2021.
Art + Technology is an annual community program launched in 2017 by Abu Dhabi Art in partnership with Khalifa University to connect art and technology for students majoring in STEM, nurturing their creativity and allowing them to harness their artistic talents. The program invites established artists from around the world to visit and collaborate with students in a series of workshops.
The “Viral Images” exhibit showcased artwork created by students during their sessions under the mentorship of Alfred Tarazi, a Lebanese multidisciplinary artist who is active in collaborating in initiatives that seek to promote and expand the appreciation for contemporary art.
Due to the pandemic, this year’s collaboration was through online workshops, with students and the artist meeting in a virtual studio space over a period of eight days. Aside from the lectures with Tarazi, the students also visited Louvre Abu Dhabi to further inspire them while working on their own art pieces.
According to Tarazi, ‘Viral Images’ is a reaction to the clutter of images in which we live; a paradigm shift imposing on its participants the limit of the production of a single image.
“Viral Images is a crash course in image-making, alternating the urgency of expression with the necessity of reflection. It aims to inscribe the individual practice of each aspiring artist within a greater tradition of image-making,” he said.
The students’ artworks were also exhibited at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair at Manarat Al Saadiyat in November 2021. The Art Fair is a yearly event that culminates all the visual arts initiatives of Abu Dhabi Art throughout the year. It brings together local and international artists to showcase their works.
Ara Maj Cruz
Creative Writer
24 November 2021
