Qatar Foundation (QF) in partnership with Al Jazeera has released Through the Archways of Art, a documentary that highlights the burgeoning art scene at QF, featuring Palestinian artist Majdulin Nasrallah, a statement said Wednesday.
Nasrallah, who moved to Qatar as a child discussed how her education at QF led to her position as a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), and how her art reflects her Palestinian roots.
At VCUarts Qatar, she uses her passion for art and philosophy to empower students to express themselves and to support them with better understanding of the mental, cultural, and social impact of art.
“Not only does art encourage creative self-expression, but it helps students analyse and think critically about the world around them. It invites them to interpret and actively engage with new concepts and perspectives,” said Nasrallah. “I think it is especially crucial to students’ individual growth as it stimulates discussion and deepens their understanding of societal, cultural, and historical topics.”
The documentary, released on Tuesday and available on QF’s website, expands on how QF and the different entities within the organisation support art students and professionals by offering creative and educational spaces. These include art trail tours to students and the community, providing them with opportunities to discover different cultures and types of art.
“Being in an exciting, collaborative space and a creative community such as VCUarts Qatar motivates students to explore and experiment,” said Nasrallah. “VCUarts Qatar offers an environment that encourages process and research-driven work and supports each student’s unique interests by introducing them to various tools and resources. Some of the resources that support the development of students’ work include the digital fabrication lab, printmaking and photography studios, wood shop, media lab and materials library.”
In addition to the exhibitions and museums located around Education City, there are also over 150 art installations displayed in public places that aim to create a space for discussion, which according to Nasrallah, play a major role in creating dialogue and stimulating critical thinking.
“As a teacher, I always make sure that my students have the incentive to explore the world around them. I think the desire to create comes from putting the work in something that excites you and that you believe in, something that is meaningful to you,” she said. “My research and work deals with the dialogue between the human experience and the built environment (specifically in Palestine), and this focus stems from my interest in design theory, philosophy, and the behavioural sciences,” she added.
Nasrallah believes in the importance of the VCUarts Qatar classes that push students to discover artwork by different artists and to engage in wider discussions. This, she says, helps them mature as artists. She had the opportunity to display several of her own pieces of artwork in Doha and is currently working on more projects which feature the Palestinian Nakba/Catastrophe; when Palestinians were forced into exile in 1948.
“The project draws upon the collective memory of displaced Palestinians and focuses on notions of permanence and temporality. I am exploring these themes through symbolic forms, materials and scents that elicit memories of Palestine. The outcomes of this ongoing project will hopefully be exhibited in the coming months,” said Nasrallah.
To watch the documentary, Through the Archways of Art, visit the QF website at https://www.qf.org.qa/stories/how-qf-is-contributing-to-the-countrys-emerging-art-scene
