Abdul Abdullah

Abdul Abdullah, a seventh-generation Muslim Australian artist, is known for exploring identity, belonging, and the experience of diaspora. His thought-provoking work challenges perceptions in society and encourages a dialogue on cultural narratives. Exhibited in major institutions like the National Gallery of Australia, Abdullah’s work resonates deeply with contemporary audiences.

His large-scale public artwork Come Together, installed on the eastern façade of Arden Station, transforms history into a modern statement. Reinterpreting J.S. Calder’s 1860 painting View from Royal Park across West Melbourne Swamp, Abdullah overlays the historical landscape with two monumental aluminium hands, reaching toward each other in a gesture of unity. These hands symbolize connection across time, acknowledging the land’s deep history—from the First Peoples of the Kulin Nation to waves of migration and the area’s evolving future. Vertical bands slicing through the artwork mimic the helical structure of DNA, representing lineage and transformation, showing how communities adapt and redefine their surroundings over generations.

We collaborated closely with Abdullah to fabricate and install the work, ensuring visual impact and structural integrity. The mosaic, spanning 125 custom-printed tiles, integrates seamlessly with the station’s architecture, its shadow illusion effect mimicking traditional tilework. The aluminium hands were laser-cut, reinforced, anodized, and finished with U-Pol Raptor Paint for durability. The left hand size is 14m x 7.7m. The right hand is 21m x 9.3m. Careful engineering accounted for building expansion joints, ensuring the image remains intact over time.