Lifestyle

Representing Transition: Fatma Al Shebani Bridges Tradition and Modernity Through Her Art

Published

4 years ago

February 22, 2022

Few countries have undergone such rapid and dramatic transformation in such a short period of time as Qatar, a former British territory that, in just a few decades, developed from an overlooked backwater situated on the Persian Gulf to the wealthiest country in the world per capita. Likewise, few artists have captured the essence of this metamorphosis, both in its celebration of change and its retention of tradition, as masterfully as Fatma Al Shebani.

Al Shebani’s career took off after the artist decided to leave teaching for good in 2007. An untimely divorce granted her the opportunity to explore her own future in ways previously unconsidered. In 1994, Al Shebani received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Qatar University and quickly established her unique voice, developing a style that bridges time itself to reflect the ethos of a society in transition.

Al Shebani’s preferred mediums include resin, bronze, and stainless steel; strong materials that mirror the internal strength of the many powerful women in her life. As a child, she would often visit the metal and concrete factory her father owned and managed, forming, from a young age, a special relationship with these various elements. Through them, Al Shebani brings wondrous visions and dreams to life. Generally, her work seeks to crystalize memories of the past and its traditions in a style that reflects the contemporary realities of Qatari life.

The concept of clothing as a lens through which one experiences culture re-emerges time and time again through her portfolio. In her ‘Bokhnaq’ series, Al Shebani reimagines the traditional garb of young girls to create statues that capture the essence of childhood, reinforcing this idea by positioning the figures in settings that add to the sense of freedom, play, and child-like joy inherent in the pieces. Her ‘Batoula’ sculptures transplant intimate memories from childhood into the present, specifically when Al Shebani would peek under the batoula of her mother or grandmother to look and touch their faces and connect with a part of their identities reserved only for those closest to them.

Together, the two series paint a visceral portrait of traditional imaginings of Qatari womanhood: the cultural dress of women both before and after marriage; outward expressions of identity as one transitions from youth into adulthood. In this sense, Al Shebani’s work acts to preserve memory. She succeeds in reimagining tradition in a form that reflects the contemporary reality of Doha’s shimmering skyline of towering steel skyscrapers; in a form more palatable to audiences of the 21st century.

Other works draw direct inspiration from interpretations of Qatari nationhood. Al Adiyat 9 reproduces the words of the Quran’s surah Al Adiyat in the form of sculpture, while simultaneously illustrating the experience of Qatar as a nation racing quickly into its own notions of modernity. Commissioned to honor the drafting of the country’s 2004 constitution. Al Adiyat 9 serves as a powerful testament to the speed of Qatar’s development, the proud history her people have managed to bring into the present, as well as the boundless opportunities that still lie ahead.

Born into a generation destined to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, Al Shebani has emerged as one of the most prolific Qatari artists of the past 20 years. She has solidified her role as a sort of ‘voice of the nation’, offering the people of Qatar, through her art, a powerful narrative that reflects both the challenges and promises of prosperity that have come to characterize the country’s collective experience of the past 50 years.

To learn more about Fatma Al Shebani and her work, reach out on social media.

Lifestyle

From Stanford to the Stage: The Leadership Journey of Tiffany Chang

Published

11 mins ago

March 13, 2026

Michelle Langton

The spotlight has the power to expose, but it also has the power to transform. For Tiffany Chang, stepping into that light, whether in a lab, a boardroom, or on stage, has been about more than recognition. It’s been about showing what leadership can look like when it’s rooted in purpose and representation.

Tiffany Chang is a Stanford University student, entrepreneur, and the first Taiwanese woman to be crowned Miss Asia USA. She has built a career that bridges engineering, cultural advocacy, and public leadership. Her journey is not about following a straight path; it’s about creating her own and opening doors for others along the way.

Tiffany was born and raised in Los Angeles, where her grandmother played a central role in keeping the family connected to Taiwanese culture. At home, cultural pride was celebrated. Outside, she often faced the weight of stereotypes tied to her race and gender. Instead of letting those experiences silence her, she leaned into academics as a way to prove herself. The turning point came in high school. Attending an all-girls school gave her the space to step into leadership for the first time. She began to see her voice as a tool, not a burden, and took on roles that allowed her to advocate for others.

Her first major step into leadership came when she founded Madhatter Knits, a nonprofit that delivers knitted hats to premature babies in hospitals. What began as a small project soon grew into a registered 501(c)(3) with volunteers, donors, and community partnerships. For Tiffany, it was more than charity work; it was an education in responsibility, teamwork, and sustaining a mission that impacts lives.

At Stanford, her work expanded into global dialogue. She helped establish the Taiwan Program at the Asia Pacific Research Center, a project that fosters cultural exchange and international collaboration. She also worked with organizations like the Asia Society and the Girl Scouts, strengthening her belief that leadership is most powerful when it brings people together across cultures and experiences.

Today, Tiffany brings her skills to the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence as Director of Investor Relations and Marketing at Kneron, a leading AI company. The role gives her a front-row seat to how new technologies are built and adopted, and it reinforces her belief that representation in tech leadership matters. At Stanford, her studies in Engineering Management and Human-Centered Design give her the tools to balance innovation with empathy. She believes that the systems shaping the future must be designed with inclusion in mind, and that the best solutions come from teams that reflect the people they serve.

Tiffany’s leadership also took an unexpected form through pageantry. Winning Miss Taiwanese American in 2022 and later Miss Asia USA gave her a new platform to tell her story and celebrate her heritage. Carrying Taiwan’s flag on stage was not just a personal honor; it was a moment of visibility for her community. For Tiffany, pageantry was not about appearances. It was about representation, resilience, and challenging stereotypes about what women in tech or leadership should look like.

Looking back, each step of Tiffany Chang’s journey, from nonprofit work to global programs, from tech leadership to international stages, taught her that leadership is not about fitting into one role. It’s about using every platform available to create impact. Her philosophy is simple: the spaces where you feel unseen are often the ones where change is most needed. Rather than avoiding those spaces, she has made them her focus, turning barriers into opportunities to lead.

As she continues her studies and career, her mission is clear. She wants to design and manage innovative systems that not only advance technology but also create lasting value for people and communities. Her story is a reminder that success doesn’t come from following a script. It comes from embracing identity, facing challenges head-on, and refusing to stay silent in the face of obstacles. Tiffany Chang shows that leadership can be found in classrooms, in boardrooms, and even on a stage, wherever there is an opportunity to inspire change.