Visual Communication Department at AUD receives foreign university delegation and prepares for ID Idea Identity Exhibition

Dr David Walters, Associate Dean at Northumbria, who headed the delegation, gave a presentation to an AUD appreciative audience, and sat with the graduating class of 2004, to discuss and review their portfolios.

This visit coincided with a series of events, and workshops undertaken by the Visual Communication Department at AUD, which started with the conference given by world famous Iranian photographers Bahman Jalali and Arash Hanaei. Mr Jalali talked about the history of Iranian photography, and addressed the issues and controversies associated to photography in Iran. He elaborated on his own work which brought the concepts of historical photography under a modern context, with a playful approach to the idea of censorship in conservative Iran. Mr Hanaei, tackled the idea of superstition in the Iranian society and its application to photography.

Subsequent to that the department hosted a workshop on Calligraphy animated by famous calligrapher Mr. Mounir Al Sharani. This workshop, which lasted an entire day, allowed Mr Sharani to give his feedback on Arabic fonts designed in a Visual Communication class at AUD and under the leadership of AUD instructor Nadine Shaheen. The workshop ended with a book signing session at the university library.

Finally a printmaking workshop was organized in the department under the leadership of Pakistani artist Zaira Ahmad Zaka. Ms Zaira introduced the students to different printmaking techniques and to mixed media mono prints. She asked the students to submit an assignment on Lino Cuts or Carving through linoleum covered wood to make negative prints. The resulting works and Ms Zaira's own work will be put on exhibit at AUD.

"Our students need to be constantly in touch with artists who can share their insight, ideas, and talents. These hands on experiences are extremely beneficial to their cultural enhancement and creative skills." said Dr Houda Smithhuijzen Abifares, Head of the Department of Visual communication at AUD.

The department is also organizing a photography and printmaking exhibition for its students on Sunday May 5th. The exhibition will showcase the photography work of the students at AUD and will feature the winning photos of the competition which took place on the 25th of April. Photographers Mr Souheil Samaan and Mr Jean Leprini and photography curator Mrs Gino Castoriano Coulom formed the panel of juries that judged the work of AUD students. The selection was based on three criteria: Strength of the narrative and creative concepts, originality of looking at portraits in addition to their technical skills and presentation, and finally strength of the emotion. The winners included Ingi Darwish and Abdul Rahman al Hussain.

The exhibition will also include works from the printmaking workshop which was organized at AUD under the direction Zaira Ahmad Zaka.

The department in conjunction with the Interior Design department at AUD is also in the final stages of preparation for the annual ID Idea Identity exhibition which will be inaugurated on the 17th of May at 7.00pm at AUD. This exhibition will last until the 27th of May.