Three UAE students win art contest

Three students from the UAE won the Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) art competition last week. The winners were announced during a press conference in Dubai.

Bushra Saif Al Deen from Al Ahliya Private School was third; Rashid Ahmad from Al Dhama' Model School in Al Ain was second and Latifa Bin Ganem from the Latifa School for Girls won the first prize of $1,400 (Dh 5,140.67).

More than 116 participants from 11 countries in the Middle East and Asia took part.

Winners from each country will now move to the second phase of the competition in which two finalists will win full four-year scholarships to attend the School of Arts at VCUQ.

The scholarships are provided by Shaikha Moza Bint Nasir Al Misnad, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The entries were judged by a jury comprising representatives from the Qatari Ministry of Education and the Sasol Chevron oil company and the Arts faculty of VCUQ.

The theme for this year's competition was "designing for a better future".

"The quality of student work is getting better every year… we are giving away more prize money… offering a fee waiver for all participants in the competition. For the focused students the opportunities are amazing," said Moamer Qazafi, director of marketing and public relations at VCUQ.

Meet the winners

Name: Latifa Bint Ganem; grade 12 student from Latifa School for Girls
Prize: First
How do you feel? I am shaking, scared, happy, frightened and surprised. I am excited.
Tell us about your work: It's about a child looking up at the sky wondering what the future is holding and what it is going to be like. I used mixed media such as acrylic, watercolours and pastels. It took me four hours to finish the painting.
How was your experience? I have learned to communicate with others. It is the first time that I have entered such a competition so I am really happy for this.
What are you planning to do when you graduate? I want to be an animator.

Name: Rashid Ahmad; grade 12 student from Al Dhama' Model School in Al Ain
Prize: Second place
What was your work about? I used computer design to express peace and preservation of the environment. I used symbolism in my work. I would like to think that my work is closer to surrealism.
How would you describe the whole experience? I am originally an artist. I started taking part in art competitions when I was 13. Unfortunately, there is no art and design culture in the UAE. Even at schools, we take art classes where drawing and designing is considered just another hobby, when in fact it is supposed to be taught just like maths and physics.
What would you like to do in future? I am still not sure if I want to go into graphic design or architecture.

Name: Bushra Saif Al Deen; grade 12 student of Al Ahliya Private School
Prize: Third place
How are you feeling?
I am so excited and happy. Really I cannot put a sentence together and I am stuttering (laughs). I never thought I would win.
So what is your work about?
Well, I have chosen to represent nature and the environment. I glued tissue paper on the canvas for texture and used acrylics for painting. My work shows flying houses, so we won't need cars anymore, more greenery, clean factories, etc.
What was it like to take part in the competition?
It was challenging because I had to finish the work during my school exams. I remember it took me 24 hours to complete the painting. I think what I have learned is never to give up and accept challenges. Always have hope.
What are your future plans?
I want to become a cartoonist.