The Core Curriculum Program (CCP), part of the Deanship of General Studies at Qatar University (QU), organized a virtual seminar titled “A Graduate’s Success Story: How to Color Your Life with Art,” featuring artist Jamila Al Ansari as a guest speaker.
The Qatari visual artist Jamila Al-Ansari spoke about her artistic journey since graduating from QU. This seminar is part of the vision and goals of the CCP to equip students with a set of attributes, knowledge, values, attitudes, and necessary skills to excel academically and personally. Numerous students and professors attended the seminar at QU.
In her opening speech, Dr. Maryam A-Kuwari, CCP Associate Director, stated, “A person without art is a ship without a captain. If it moves it goes weak and lost, damaged by paths, spoiled by mistakes, swallowed by seas, or tossed by storms. A soul devoid of art is a luxurious palace lacking a vibrant soul.” Dr. Al-Kuwari welcomed the guest speaker, describing her art as a “social responsibility and an aesthetic and intellectual project.”
Jamila Al-Ansari commenced her narrative, mentioning that she joined QU as a student majoring in biological sciences, as it was her scientific focus in high school. However, she quickly became attracted to fine arts and painting, leading her to change her major to art education, supported especially by her family and her father in this transition.
She added, “After graduation, I found that the available jobs for me were in the field of education. However, I did not want to solely connect my artistry with teaching. I asked myself, 'What have I done for myself after graduation to further develop and excel more in art?' The answer came through my enrollment in various courses at the Youth Center for Artistic Creativity, the Girls' Creativity Center, and the Visual Arts Center (VAC).”
Regarding her participation in numerous local and international art exhibitions, she said, “I faced many challenges, as I used to be shy about standing among people and speaking with journalists. However, I quickly overcame my shyness, as exhibitions played a significant role in developing my artistic works, gradually leading me to the stage of calligraphy and abstraction.”
The artist received several awards and honors, including the Saad Al Sabah Award for the Gulf Workshop for Visual Creativity in its fifth edition in 2016 in Kuwait. She also participated in various local and international exhibitions, notably the “Spirit of China” exhibition through the eyes of Arab famous artists in 2018, where Qatar participated for the first time.
Additionally, the artist advised students to hone their talents through daily practice, attending art workshops at cultural and youth centers under the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Youth, such as the Visual Arts Center and the Souq Waqif Art Center.