Inspiration is what I needed and inspiration is what I found when reading about Sydney Artist Abdul Abdullah. His self portraiture traces back to his roots of being Muslim in Australia. In the ongoing, heated political climate that revolves around the issues of terrorism in Australia, Abdul has been faced with the difficulty of expressing who he is. Through his photography and paintings, Abdul is able to confront key issues surrounding the Muslim community as well as the social stigma that is attached to Muslims in Western Society. His story gave me a new mindset of how I could tackle this self portrait task. Abdul draws his creativity from his background and the current issues that he faces in the often turbulent climate of the world today. Seeing how he uses his ideas and his experiences of the world to create his art, prompted me to delve into my own views and interactions with the world around me.
I may not have had as much of an involvement in the political environment of the world, nor have I been treated in the same regard as the Muslim community, however, it is this idea of drawing from ones experiences in the world to create art that captivated me. The concept a person explores could be provoked through an experience they have had, or it could be based on their views towards certain issues in the world.
Initially I was apprehensive to draw on my own experiences and views, to then showcase them in a public environment. The vulnerability that came with doing this, scared me. However, reading this article, as well as viewing Abdul’s pieces of work, gave me the confidence to express my self in a similar way.
I feel privileged to be allowed to enter the world of Abdul. His paintings give a broader perspective of the world and showcase current, controversial political ideas that are so often hidden by smoke and mirrors.
