vcuarts qatar returns to ars electronica festival 2024 with ‘fractal elegies’

vcuarts qatar’s second time at ars electronica

After making their debut in 2023, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) participates for the second time in the Ars Electronica Festival, held in Linz, Austria, from September 4-8, 2024. Their exhibition, titled ‘Fractal Elegies,’ invites viewers to approach language not just as a tool for communication, but as a lens to explore different perspectives and meanings, particularly those rooted in the diverse experiences of Southwest Asia, North Africa (SWANA), and the Far East.

cross-cultural education through international design events

Established in 1998 through a partnership with Qatar Foundation, VCUarts Qatar is the international branch of Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, based in Richmond, Virginia. By offering degrees in kinetic imaging, graphic design, interior design, painting and printmaking, and art history, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in design, the University serves as a bridge between the Middle East and the broader art and design world, facilitating cross-cultural exchanges. Their educational approach is enriched by participation in international art and design events, including Ars Electronica, London Design Week, Milan Design Week, and the Venice Biennale, among others.

fractal elegies exhibition

The ‘Fractal Elegies’ exhibition at Ars Electronica 2024 highlights the creative prowess of ten designers from VCUarts Qatar, including Rogsh Emmanuel H. Garcia, Hind Al Saad, Basma Hamdy, Levi Hammett, Shima Aeinehdar, Selma Fejzullaj, Nada Abdo, Ayza Sheikh, Syed Naqvi and Erika Tsuchiya. In their works the designers utilize a range of electronic accessories such as lidar scanners, LED bulbs, and 3D software like Blender and Unity, integrating art, design, and technology. Through this multimedia exploration, the exhibition challenges viewers to reconsider the role of language as more than just a communicative tool but as a means to navigate complex cultural questions, aligning with Ars Electronica’s 2024 theme, ‘Hope – who will turn the tide?’

project info: 

institute: VCUarts Qatar | @vcuqatar

exhibition title: Fractal Elegies 

theme: Hope – who will turn the tide?

artists/designers: Rogsh Emmanuel H. Garcia, Hind Al Saad, Basma Hamdy, Levi Hammett, Shima Aeinehdar, Selma Fejzullaj, Nada Abdo, Ayza Sheikh, Syed Naqvi and Erika Tsuchiya

location: Ars Electronica, PostCity, Linz, Austria

dates: 4 – 8 September 2024