Abdul Abdullah, image courtesy of the artist
Victoria: While preparing for this interview, I read a lot of bios and previous interviews with you - but in your own words who is Abdul Abdullah? And what is your work all about?
Abdul: I am an artist and I use my work to try and better unpack and understand the world around me. Sometime my work is quite critical and sometimes it is more focused on the internal or shared emotional experiences. I am very interested in how people work and why we do things, and I hope this comes through in my work.
Come together, Abdul Abdullah, Arden Station, Melbourne Metro, image courtesy of the artist
Victoria: Your practice has predominantly been gallery-based, was Metro Tunnel your first public art commission and how have you found the process? Can you describe the commission and your inspiration for the work.
Abdul: The Metro Tunnel was my first public art commission secured, but not the first outcome completed. Like other collaborative process I have found the project more challenging than I would a solo endeavour. While the labour is shared, it also means there are more external expectations to be met, and working in public spaces also means you are subject to the expectations of other invested parties, and those expectations can change with government or other shifting roles.
Victoria: I love public art because it’s for everyone, not just only for a wealthy elite art gallery audience, how important is that wider public audience to you?
Abdul: I love public art because it goes out to the audience and there is something very egalitarian and democratic about that. I wouldn’t go as far to say that galleries are exclusively for wealthy elites, in fact I try very hard to refute that. Our National and State galleries are public institutions and are by rights everybody’s. These are free to use public civic spaces and part of my remit as an artist is to encourage and remind people that these spaces and institutions belong to them as much as anyone else.
(Apologies I wrote these interview questions when I'd just returned from Art Basel Hong Kong, surrounded by the wealthy elite!)
Victoria: What kind of impact do you hope this public artwork will have on the community and evolving surrounding area at Arden?
Abdul: I really hope that the work ‘Come together’ acts a s a waypoint and meeting place for local communities and visitors.
Victoria: This artwork that will be in place for decades, that’s quite a legacy. How do you feel about this kind of public presence over such a long time, generations to come?
Abdul: It’s a funny thing to think about having my work become part of the landscape for decades to come. When my wife and I have children, I hope our kids will be proud of it.
Victoria: The artwork is huge, has this inspired you to work at a larger scale going forward?
Abdull: Ha ha ha yeah it is pretty big. I do like going big, but I am also very practical in my approach to art making. I’ll go big when it services the idea.
Victoria: You have recently relocated to Bangkok, what inspired you to move and how are you enjoying living in Thailand?
Abdul: Since 2017 I have been working and showing a lot in Asia and further abroad. It made sense for me to relocate closer to where I was working. This year I’ve been in shows in Singapore and Hong Kong, and they were 1.5 hour and 2.5 hour flights respectively. I really enjoy living in Thailand; the climate, culture and food really suit me ha ha.
Victoria: In Australia you are one of our most famous living artists, are you recognised in Thailand or is it like getting back some ‘normality’/anonymity? How does Thailand compare to Australia generally?
Abdul: That is a flattering question. Beyond the high school students who may have to do an assignment on me or in very niche art circles, I don’t think I am very well known. I feel pretty anonymous wherever I go. I am very unlikely to meet anyone I know on the street here, although my wife Amrita and I are getting to know people in the arts community.
Victoria: Your practice explores identity and the experiences you’ve had growing up in Australia, do you think that living in Thailand will see a shift in your experiences, and artistic practice, as a result of your move?
Abdul: Since I first started working internationally in 2017 my practice has shifted. An international audience wouldn’t have the same specific cultural and social references and touch points, so my visual language has definitely broadened.
Victoria: We have recently been developing programs and resources to help emerging and established artists wanting to develop their work to include public art. What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career as an artist/public artist?
Abdul: I still think I am relatively inexperienced in making public art, but if someone wanted to be an artist I would recommend finding a community of like-minded people and put on shows together. A rising tide lifts all boats. I also found good mentorship was really really helpful. The opportunities I had in the early parts of my career don’t exist in the same way these days, but making as part of a community will mean newer opportunities are more easily discovered and shared.
Victoria: Having almost completed a very large public artwork, what would you say are your key take aways/learnings from the process?
Abdul: Working in public spaces takes time, and the process involves a lot of decision makers that you may not ever meet. Through this process I have learned to adapt my expectations to unforeseen circumstances that are beyond anyone in the creative team’s control.
Victoria: What’s in your schedule for the coming year/s?
Abdul: I will be continuing to show regularly in Asia with more shows soon in Europe and the US. I plan to remain in Thailand, but visit and show in Australia frequently.
Client - @metrotunnelvic @metrotunnelart
Artist - @abdul_abdullah
Curator & commissioning lead - @_tprojects_
Curatorial advisory panel - @natalieking_curator @maxdelany @kimberleymoulton Donald Bates Max Coffman
Fabricator - @uapcompany
To learn more about Abdull Abdullah you can visit the artist's website
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