Those interested in exploring the exciting intersection of technology and design might want to check out an interactive exhibition titled ‘Hello, World!: Exploring Computational Potential’ at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university.
The exhibition which runs until February 17, 2022, is free, and open to the public during the university’s working hours. Organised by ‘xLab’, one of VCUarts Qatar’s research initiatives, the event includes both static and ‘live’ exhibits. The ‘live’ exhibits are programmed to create or behave in a specific manner based on algorithms and data input, giving visitors a chance to explore and experience areas where art and design intersect technology and computation resulting in non-linear processes for thinking and making.
All the exhibits were created and programmed by VCUarts Qatar’s xLab team consisting of Levi Hammett, associate professor, graphic design; Haithem A. El-Hammali and Mohamed Nabil Suleiman, assistant professors, interior design; and VCUarts Qatar students Hind al-Saad, Fatima Abbas, Shaina Dane Juras, and Abdul Rahman Alkhatib Alhosani.
xLab was started as a research studio at VCUarts Qatar almost two years ago, to support research, teaching, and learning related to the creative potential of computation and technology such but not limited to robotics, AI, coding, new materials, and so on. Beyond the lab's core purpose of conducting research and supporting academia, it is poised to be a resource, a channel, and a network, for the wider community.
“In addition to enhancing the creative capacity for technologies such as literacy in coding and algorithmic thinking within the VCUarts Qatar community, xLab is keen to engage with the public,” the xLab team says. “This inaugural exhibition is our first step to launch xLab within and outside the university, and we've already started engaging with the public regarding collaborations, possible workshops, and future projects.”
The name of the exhibition itself holds a reference to the phrase ‘Hello World’ in computation. A ‘Hello, World!’ program is popularly recognised as a computer program that outputs or displays the message "Hello, World!", and is often used to illustrate the basic syntax of a programming language.
Those interested in learning more or getting in touch with the xLab team can contact [email protected], or send an Instagram message to @xlab.vcuq
All the exhibits were created and programmed by VCUarts Qatar’s xLab team consisting of Levi Hammett, associate professor, graphic design; Haithem A. El-Hammali and Mohamed Nabil Suleiman, assistant professors, interior design; and VCUarts Qatar students Hind al-Saad, Fatima Abbas, Shaina Dane Juras, and Abdul Rahman Alkhatib Alhosani.
xLab was started as a research studio at VCUarts Qatar almost two years ago, to support research, teaching, and learning related to the creative potential of computation and technology such but not limited to robotics, AI, coding, new materials, and so on. Beyond the lab's core purpose of conducting research and supporting academia, it is poised to be a resource, a channel, and a network, for the wider community.
“In addition to enhancing the creative capacity for technologies such as literacy in coding and algorithmic thinking within the VCUarts Qatar community, xLab is keen to engage with the public,” the xLab team says. “This inaugural exhibition is our first step to launch xLab within and outside the university, and we've already started engaging with the public regarding collaborations, possible workshops, and future projects.”
The name of the exhibition itself holds a reference to the phrase ‘Hello World’ in computation. A ‘Hello, World!’ program is popularly recognised as a computer program that outputs or displays the message "Hello, World!", and is often used to illustrate the basic syntax of a programming language.
Those interested in learning more or getting in touch with the xLab team can contact [email protected], or send an Instagram message to @xlab.vcuq
