Tasmeem Doha seeks dash of creativity in ‘transformation’

By Bonnie James/Deputy News Editor Hybrid Making, exemplifying the tremendous transformation that Doha is currently undergoing, is the theme for Tasmeem Doha 2013 that will be held on March 10-17. The biennial international design and art conference hosted by the Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar has proven increasingly popular as it gathers and engages scholars, students, community members and practitioners to discuss and scrutinise critical issues in design and art. “What, not long ago, was a small pearl fishing community has, in only a few decades, turned into a world-class tourism and events destination; a home for 1.7mn inhabitants; and a preeminent centre for culture and art,” a spokesperson said yesterday. Despite these impressive and far-reaching transformations, very little is actually produced in Qatar. Goods, products, produce, architecture, art, artefacts, knowledge and other manifestations of creativity are, for the most part, imported. As a consumer rather than a maker, Qatar is heavily dependent on other parts of the world - not only for its day-to-day existence - but also for its identity. “We believe that creativity and the act of making are key components in forming Qatar’s sustainable future, and that art and design have an important role to play in this ongoing transformation,” the official observed. Tasmeem Doha 2013 – Hybrid Making will break free from a typical conference structure and act more like a series of on-going activities, collaborative workshops, lab sessions and exhibitions that will in their own way explore the various paradigms of making, be these in the form of traditional academic research or makings that project more atypical and syncretic (involving a change of value and form resulting from the blending of elements of two or more cultures) aims in their approach. The three main components of Tasmeem Doha 2013 are the Production Phase (five days of workshops and labs, March 10-14), Breather Day (a day of reflection, preparation and rest) on March 15, and the conference (two days of presentations, symposium seminars, performances, exhibitions and lectures) on March 16-17. The Tasmeem Hybrid Making Laboratories are full-scale explorations undertaken through the very act of making. For five days, groups of 20-25 students and faculty, led by invited international designers and artists, will design and create full scale semi-permanent structures (walk-in sculptures), performances or other catalytic interventions. All the laboratories will take place within or adjacent to the grounds of the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, where both interiors (inside the museum galleries) and exteriors (on the paved grounds and the flanking garden) will be available. They are to be led by Kristin Bille, Lynne Bruning, Younes Duret, Corin Hewitt, Josh Hoeks and Ryan Rasmussen, Kelly Hutzell, Rami El Samahy, Mary-Lou Arscott and Nick Durrant, Roger Kemp and Anthony Fryatt, Ashley John Pigford, Steven Pippin, Sara Shafiei and Ben Cowd, Alex Schweder La, and Sigríður Sigurjónsdóttir. The Tasmeem Hybrid Making Projects are interdisciplinary, collaborative, and charette-style designed to produce viable end products by the conclusion of the exercises. Groups of two to 15 faculty members will collaborate to synergistically create innovative end products from March 10 to March 14 at the VCUQatar premises.   These products, or ‘makings’, may be in the form of academic papers, fashion shows, videos, full scale semi-permanent structures, performances or almost any other form determined by the project leaders and/or participants. Thinking outside the box is encouraged. Blending disparate ideas, methodologies and materials to produce exciting new products is at the heart of the Hybrid Makings Projects.