CMU-Q student showcases photography at Ajyal

A photo essay that began as a CMU-Q class project was selected for the multimedia art exhibit “Outbreak,” a part of Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) eighth Ajyal Film Festival. Reem Al-Haddad, who is a senior in information systems, first developed the project as part of a digital photography course she took last summer.

When CMU-Q’s instruction moved online due to the pandemic, the campus offered several new online courses, including offerings taught by professors at the Carnegie Mellon main campus in Pittsburgh. Dylan Vitone, an associate professor with CMU’s School of Design, taught the course.

“One assignment was to create an ‘implied narrative.’ I decided to have it revolve around a female’s experience,” said Al-Haddad. She posted her photographs on Twitter, and received nearly 2000 likes. Her work was reposted, and months later she was contacted by the director of the Ajyal exhibition, nominating her to participate in “Outbreak.”

Al-Haddad said, “I will always connect my first exhibition with CMU, and how a class assignment led me to create a photo project that others have found meaningful.”

“Outbreak” is a multimedia exhibition featuring the work of 24 local artists, including Reem Al-Haddad. Visitors are welcome to see the exhibition at Sikkat Wadi Msheireb until December 19.