For Peace
Abdul ABDULLAH: artist
Abdul Abdullah is the younger of the two Abdullah brothers, both artists. He often says that while his brother Abdul-Rahman is a pre-September 11 artist, he is a post-September 11 artist, meaning that his identity and artistic responses have been shaped by how Muslims, especially young men, have been viewed by the mainstream society. Issues he raises in his work, though, are relevant to the experience of young people from all ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
The titles of the photographs come from a ten-line poem written by Abdullah and refer to both autobiographical quotes and philosophical propositions. They depict the artist in a classic portrait setting wearing the Planet of the Apes mask—purchased from the film’s production studio. Abdullah presents in visual terms what the mainstream is thinking: the ‘other’ is a monster, the dangerous unknown, so the artist gives us this stereotype, presenting a visual specimen for moral reassessment. The text on his black tee-shirt reads salam, meaning ‘peace’ in Arabic.
The titles of the photographs come from a ten-line poem written by Abdullah and refer to both autobiographical quotes and philosophical propositions. They depict the artist in a classic portrait setting wearing the Planet of the Apes mask—purchased from the film’s production studio. Abdullah presents in visual terms what the mainstream is thinking: the ‘other’ is a monster, the dangerous unknown, so the artist gives us this stereotype, presenting a visual specimen for moral reassessment. The text on his black tee-shirt reads salam, meaning ‘peace’ in Arabic.
Title
For Peace
Artist/Maker and role
Abdul ABDULLAH: artist
Date
2014
Medium
C-type print
Measurements
155.0 x 110.0cm
Credit line
Purchased 2015
The State Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Western Australia
Accession number
2015/0062