DOHA: A special exhibition at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art yesterday allowed visually impaired visitors to enjoy a selection of paintings by prominent Arab artists through touch and audio description of each work.
The unique, inclusive exhibition ‘Art Translates’ was held in collaboration between Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and Mathaf.
It coincided with United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Students from TII’s Master of Arts in Audiovisual Translation programme developed special Enriched Descriptive Guides and reinterpreted the pieces of art in tactile formats, making the art works accessible to visually impaired visitors.
Works featured at the exhibition were by Baya Mahieddine, Jassim Al Zaini, Farhad Moshiri, Ahmed Morsi, Faisal Laibi, Hamad Owais, Rafa Al Nasiri, Ali Hassan and Naja Mahdawi.
Dr Josélia Neves, an associate professor at the university with the responsibility of promoting accessible learning initiatives within TII, said: “The project has been an opportunity to train our students for their future as providers of accessible communication formats for museums. It has also served to add value to our cultural environment and take academic work into the real world.”
Noor El Taweel, a student involved in the project, said, “The most exciting part of the project has been learning about human diversity and seeing that we can contribute to making society more inclusive.”
HBKU is accepting applications to its MA in Audiovisual Translation’s fall 2016 intake and other programmes. Those interested in postgraduate study are encouraged to attend the upcoming graduate open house on December 12, at HBKU Student Center from 5pm to 7pm. It will offer information about programmes and insight into the admissions process. Individuals may RSVP online at http://www.hbku.edu.qa/openhouse.
The Peninsula
