Reema Abu Hassan is interdisciplinary designer and the founding director of the Clay Encounters Ceramics Design Studio at The Pearl in Qatar. Drawing from her background in architecture, digital fabrication, theory, design and ceramics, she has developed a hybridity to her work that fosters the power of interdisciplinarity. Through Clay Encounters, she has positioned collaboration, participation and teaching as core components to the way in which she practices and conducts her research. Her current work integrates digital tools into the analogue processes of traditional modes of making within ceramics.
Resume
EDUCATION 2011 - 2016 Bachelor of Architecture, American University of Sharjah. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. With honors: Cum Laude.2018 - 2020 Master of Fine Art, Design Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar. Doha, Qatar. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2018 - present Clay Encounters, Founding Director
The Pearl Qatar
Doha, Qatar.
Clay Encounters is a ceramics design studio and a curated design shop located in Doha, Qatar at The Pearl’s Qanat Quartier.
The studio’s primary objective is to reintroduce a traditional craft through design and to draw a diversity of people to engage in making and material explorations within the realm of ceramics and design. This is to promote a studio environment that fosters collaboration among a diversity of studio members through making.
The studio also aims to engage with the community through collaborations that harness the value of Qatar’s diverse community. The design shop invites designers and makers within Qatar and beyond to showcase and retail their products at the studio.
The studio’s growing presence within Qatar has led to the need to go beyond the confines of the studio to accommodate the growing demand for the classes, products and services that we offer. We constantly go out into the community to host workshops, set up exhibitions and conduct live demonstrations in collaboration with entities, corporation, and cultural institutions to promote craft and design.
The studio’s research component within the field of design is focused on incorporating digital tools into analogue modes of making within ceramics. The products that are designed and crafted at Clay Encounters are heavily impacted by digital technologies. The ongoing exploration into this has been made possible through the studio’s design shop and through the current collaboration with Qatar Museums and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. Our products are currently on sale at the National Museum of Qatar.
2019 - present Master of Fine Art (MFA) Product Technician
MFA Department
Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
Doha, Qatar.
A collaboration between Clay Encounters, Qatar Museums, and the MFA department to design and produce a product to retail at the National Museum of Qatar. The product integrates digital tools into the analogue process of slip casting.
2018 Architect and Researcher
Atlas Bookstore
Doha, Qatar.
2017 Research and Design Intern
Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) + AMO
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
2016 Junior Architect
Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
Dubai, The United Arab Emirates.
2015 Digital Fabrication and Design Intern
RAD-Lab
Boston, The United States of America.
EXHIBITIONS
2020 “Pottery: A traditional Craft.” Baraha Souq, Qatar National Museum. Doha, Qatar. (forthcoming: February 14th)
2020 “Construction of an Identity: Emerging Talent from Qatar.” Maison et Objet fair. Paris, France. (forthcoming: January 16th)
2019 “Centered: The Analogue and the Digital.” Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. Doha, Qatar.
2018 Clay Encounters and VCU-Q Materials Library, Exhibition. Accompanied by a wheel demonstration and workshop. VCU-Qatar.
2019 Torba Farmer’s Market, Exhibition and Wheel Demonstration. Doha, Qatar.
2018 Qalam Hebr’s Creative Writing Platform, Workshop. Exhibition and wheel demonstration with Katara Art Center. Doha, Qatar.
2016 Curator of the American University of Sharjah’s 6 Degrees Graduation Exhibition at the Dubai Design District. Dubai, UAE.
2015 Sheikha Manal Young Artist, Exhibition. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
2014 Katara Community Supported Art Exhibition. Doha, Qatar
2014 Annual Royal Institute of British Architects exhibition. London, UK.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
2018 - present Interior Design Teaching Assistant
IDES Department
Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
Doha, Qatar.
2018 - 2019 Fabrication Lab - Extended Hours Monitor
Fabrication Lab
Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
Doha, Qatar.
2016 Teaching Assistant
Fundamentals of Architecture
American University of Sharjah.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
2015 - 2016 Research Assistant, Digital Fabrication Lab
College of Architecture, Art and Design.
American University of Sharjah.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
2014 – 2016 Digital Fabrication Lab Assistant
College of Architecture, Art and Design.
American University of Sharjah.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
2015 Teaching Assistant
Theory of Architecture
American University of Sharjah.
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
AWARDS + GRANTS
2018 - 2019 Graduate Fellowship (100%), Virginia Commonwealth University- Qatar. Doha, Qatar
2018 Graduate Research Grant, Virginia Commonwealth University- Qatar. Doha, Qatar
2017 Top 50 | School with No Classrooms. “Tools of Imagination.”
2016 Honorable Mention, ‘Paris Pavilion: The Art of Peace.’
2015 - 2016 Sheikh Khalifa Scholarship, Awarded to 1 person at College of Architecture, Art and Design at AUS
2015 Architectural Association Visiting School 2.0 Scholarship
2011 - 2016 Merit Scholarship, American University of Sharjah.
PUBLICATIONS
2018 Abu Hassan, Reema. “The Associative tool of Representation.” Representation: Process and Practice Across Design Disciplines. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
2018 Abu Hassan, Reema. “Neo-Orientalism and the Search for Identity.” 106th Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Annual Meeting Conference. Denver, Colorado.
CONFERENCES
2018 Abu Hassan, Reema. “The Associative tool of Representation.” Representation: Process and Practice Across Design Disciplines. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
SERVICE
2019 Clay Encounters: Qatar Museums and Baraha Souq at the Qatar National Museum. Ceramics Workshop
Clay Encounters: CC The Works and Qatar Art Center, Clay Social ceramic workshop (community outreach).
Clay Encounters: Fire Station and Doha Palestine Cinema Festival, Rituals Workshop (community outreach).
Clay Encounters: Qatar Downs Syndrome charity class (community outreach).
Clay Encounters: Qatar Petrochemical Company team building workshop (community outreach).
Clay Encounters: Phone Art Qatar Workshop (community outreach and collaboration).
Clay Encounters: Ceramics fundraiser kids’ class in collaboration with Qatar Cancer Society and Medad. Childhood Cancer Support Campaign (community collaboration).
Clay Encounters: Dar Al Hekma charity workshop for high school students (community outreach).
Tasmeem Doha Art and Design Conference (community collaboration and exhibition).
2018 Clay Encounters: Viva Mexico Restaurant Workshop (community outreach).
Clay Encounters: Ritz Carleton Doha, Team Building Workshop (community outreach).
Clay Encounters: Fikrh and Clay Encounters Design Shop (community collaboration).
Clay Encounters: Medad and Clay Encounters Design Shop (community collaboration).
Clay Encounters: Gsharna and Clay Encounters Design Shop (community collaboration).
Clay Encounters: Zan Prints and Clay Encounters Design Shop (community collaboration).
Clay Encounters: Candeel and Clay Encounters Design Shop (community collaboration).
2016 Coordinator, Kaveh Dabiri and Geert Reitsma lectures at American University of Sharjah. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Service Award at College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah.
2015 Coordinator, Rem Koolhaas lecture at American University of Sharjah. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
BIBLIOGRAPHY / INTERVIEWS
2019 Jose, Ria Maria. “The house of pots: The ceramicist providing a creative platform.” Gulf Times. Dec 18th, 2019 https://m.gulf-times.com/content/pdf/Community/Community2019_12_18769028.PDF
2019 “Twenty women on the move in 2020.” Qatar Tribune. Nov 17, 2019 http://www.qatar-tribune.com/news-details/id/176869 2019 Sayed, Ifath. “Clay Encounters.” Ginger Camel, Doha Heat Podcast. Jul 22, 2019 https://app.stitcher.com/splayer/f/64617?el=1&refid=stpr2018 Asmaa B. “Clay Encounters, your new favorite thing to do in Doha.”. Qatar Living. August 2018. https://www.qatarliving.com/forum/arts-culture/posts/clay-encounters-your-new-favorite-thing-do-doha2015 Gokulan, Dhanusha. “An out-of-the-box visual treat.” Khaleej Times. January 26, 2015 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/an-out-of-the-box-visual-treat 2014 Nangiana, Umer. “Radiating a Human Face.” The Gulf Times. May 21, 2014. https://www.gulf-times.com/story/393001/Radiating-a-human-faceSKILLS
Digital Rhino, Grasshopper, AutoCAD , Autodesk Maya Modelling, Autodesk Maya Animation, V-ray Rendering, Master Cam (CNC routing), Processing, After Affects, Mesh Lab, Magics, InDesign /Illustrator /Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Digital Fabrication, KUKA robot programming, Z-brush. KUKA robot fabrication, laser cutters, 3D printers. CNC routing,
Analogue Ceramics, wheel throwing, slip casting, , welding and steel fabrication , mixing glazes, glass blowing, wood working.
LANGUAGES
Fluent in English and Arabic | Beginner in French