They are a jovial bunch of young Emarati students from the Fine Arts Program at Zayed University, Dubai. All excited about their group exhibition, entitled "Al Faseelah", to be venued at the Hunar Gallery starting tomorrow and running on until June 14.
"Not only does the University strive to build a fine academic reputation while providing its students with a dynamic and enjoyable learning experience, it also offers a choice of degree programmes tailored to their personal academic interests and career aspirations," said Selma Tufail, the Fine Arts instructor at the University. "We have around 20 full time students for this particular programme, which is the only Fine Arts major in the UAE. And through this display we wish to expose the students' work and make the people aware of our programme and skills."
The exhibition will display mainly the works of the Third Year students, though there will be some selected works of the other students.
"Most of the displays are a result of the experimentation of different media, style and technique and while doing so, the students are exploring the world of art and picking up styles and techniques which I am sure, they will follow in later years."
Farida Hussain Langawi, a Third Year student likes to paint in oil as "it gives a lot of freedom".
"I prefer the heritage scene and you can find the UAE environment influencing our subjects," she said. As a High School student, she did not have any exposure to Fine Art classes at the secondary level, except for some basic sessions. She prefers computer graphics because that is the 'in-thing' right now and her aim is to get a good job later as a graphic designer.
| Ron Hawker during a class © Gulf News |
"My future aim is to open an art gallery here in Dubai," said Kareem about her ambition.
Classmate Khawla Khalid Mohamed likes both computer graphics and hand-painting as different mediums of expressions. "I prefer realistic painting because it reflects the life around me," she explains.
Asma Hamad Salem Ayyaf is another student who loves painting traditional things and so does Arwa Ahmad Abdulla Husain Lootah and Najla Al Nehayan.
And what has made the Fine Arts Program so attractive?
They replied in chorus, "Our studio work is combined with theoretical training and busy schedules of museum and gallery visits. Not only that, we have field trips to important commercial and heritage sites in the UAE, and are allowed to attend guest lectures and workshops from visiting professional artists."
According to Tufail, the icing on the cake is perhaps the on-the-job internship the students must accomplish in their final year.
"This will help them experience life in the workplace with all its pressures, testing their skills and ability to cope with deadlines and other challenges," concluded the instructor.
