Abdul-Rahman Abdullah
Abdul-Rahman Abdullah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977 Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Visual artist |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Sculpture, installation art |
Abdul-Rahman Abdullah (born 1977) is an Australian visual artist residing in Western Australia, focusing mainly on sculpture and installation art. He is the older sibling of fellow artist Abdul Abdullah.
Early life and education
Abdul-Rahman Abdullah was born in 1977 in Port Kembla, New South Wales. He descends from a family with a Malay mother and an Anglo-Australian father, practicing the Islamic faith. On his paternal side, he is a seventh-generation Australian, tracing his lineage back to ancestors who arrived aboard the Indefatigable convict ship in 1815. Both of his grandfathers served during the Second World War.
Prior to committing to an artistic career, Abdullah held various positions and honed his abilities as an illustrator and commercial sculptor. In 2010, he commenced formal art studies at the Victorian College of Arts in Melbourne but ultimately completed his degree at Curtin University in Perth in 2012, graduating at the age of 34.
Career
One year following his graduation, Abdullah transitioned into full-time artistry, successfully obtaining commissions for public art. By 2014, he broadened his artistic repertoire to incorporate woodcarving alongside materials such as clay, moulds, silicone, and resin, building upon his background in commercial sculpture.
In 2018, he took on the role of co-curator for Waqt al-tagheer: Time of change held at ACE Open in Adelaide as part of the Adelaide Festival. This exhibition showcased eleven Muslim artists who examined themes of identity. The program included works by his brother Abdul Abdullah and featured Abdul-Rahman’s own sculptural installation titled 500 Books, alongside artists like Hoda Afshar, Khadim Ali, among others.
Art practice and themes
Abdullah’s creations are deeply informed by his Muslim identity and experiences as someone often perceived as an outsider within Australia. In 2020, he reflected on the nation’s persistent challenges with systemic racism, environmental degradation driven by profit motives, and ongoing colonial injustices.
His artistic inspiration is drawn from his familial roots and ancestors originating from Malaysia and Indonesia, delving into various interpretations of family. Animal imagery plays a pivotal role in his work, rendered through a technique he describes as "aestheticised realism"—where figures maintain realistic proportions but are simplified and stylized—frequently characterized as magic realism. These animal forms serve as metaphors for human narratives, interpersonal connections, and collective memory.
During the 2022 exhibition Land Abounds, which featured both Abdullah brothers alongside video art by Tracey Moffatt, Abdul-Rahman emphasized their shared exploration of perception and authority, highlighting how their artworks engage with social relations and individual agency.
Other roles
- 2017–2021: Served on the board of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
- 2018: Participated as a member of the City of Perth East End revitalisation advisory group
Recognition
In 2018, both Abdullah brothers were shortlisted to represent Australia at the 58th edition of the Venice Biennale (2019).
Abdul-Rahman participated in the 2016 Adelaide Biennial and was again selected for the 2022 event as one of "25 leading Australian contemporary artists."
Residencies
- 2013: Underbelly Arts Lab residency at Cockatoo Island, Sydney
- 2014: Residency at Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney
- 2015: Artist residency at Galeri Petronas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 2016: Attended the 4A Beijing Residency program in Beijing, China
Notable awards and distinctions
Abdullah has been a finalist on two occasions for the Wynne Prize (up to September 2021), as well as for the Blake Prize and various other accolades; he has received special recognition in the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize and earned multiple awards for his sculpture work.
In 2020, he was awarded the Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize presented by La Trobe University for his piece Transplants (Euphorbia, Monstera, Sansevieria), which pays tribute to his mother's skills in horticulture. The following year, Abdullah won the Minnawarra Art Prize held in Western Australia.
Exhibitions
Abdullah's debut solo show took place in Perth in 2012 at Kurb, an artist-run space, where he also sold his first piece. His creations have been exhibited at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne. In 2014, The Obstacle, a life-sized buffalo sculpture carved from jelutong wood and displayed on a Persian carpet, was featured at the Melbourne Art Fair.
April 2015 marked the opening of "WA Focus" at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, an exhibition highlighting works by both Abdullah brothers. That same year, his art appeared in Here&Now15 at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery and during a mid-year salon event at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).
In 2019, his expansive installation titled Pretty Beach, which incorporated painted wooden stingrays and cascading crystal elements, was part of The National exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This installation explored themes related to his grandfather’s suicide and their coastal upbringing.
In 2020, Abdullah prepared for I am a heart beating in the world: Diaspora Pavilion 2, an international group exhibition initially scheduled for the Venice Biennale but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organized by the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and collaborators, it transitioned to an online format in 2021 featuring artists such as Lindy Lee and Leyla Stevens.
His inaugural institutional solo exhibition debuted in February 2021 at Perth’s John Curtin Gallery. Named Everything is true, it showcased 24 sculptures and represented his most comprehensive exhibition to date.
Between May and July 2022, Land Abounds, displaying works by both Abdullah brothers alongside video art by Tracey Moffatt, was presented at Ngununggula gallery located in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands.
Solo exhibitions
By September 2021, Abdullah’s solo exhibitions encompassed:[1]
- 2012: Inside the little kingdom, Fringe World Festival, Kurb Gallery, Perth
- 2013: Maghrib, Venn Gallery, Perth
- 2015: In the name, Alaska Projects, Sydney
- 2017: Among Monsters, This Is No Fantasy, Melbourne
- 2018: The Dogs, Moore Contemporary, Perth
- 2021: Everything is true, Perth Festival, John Curtin Gallery, Perth
Collections
Abdullah’s artworks are included within prominent national and regional collections such as:[1]
- Artbank (national collection)
- Art Gallery of South Australia
- Art Gallery of Western Australia
- University of Western Australia
- Murdoch University
- La Trobe University
- Curtin University
- Islamic Museum of Australia
- City of Campbelltown (NSW)
- City of Broken Hill
- City of Bendigo
- City of Armadale
- Wesfarmers
Personal life
Abdullah lives on a cattle farm located in Mundijong, Western Australia, together with his wife, the artist Anna Louise Richardson, their two daughters, and their infant son. The couple manages to integrate raising their children alongside their artistic studio commitments.
His younger sibling is the artist Abdul Abdullah.
Further reading
External links
- (54:23)
- Features a discussion between both brothers and Daniel Browning.