Big Jihad

Abdul-Rahman Abdullah is a Perth based multi-disciplinary artist and commercial sculptor. He holds a BA Fine Arts from both the University of Melbourne and Curtin University. Abdul-Rahman describes his practice as exploring ‘a sense of identity that emerges from a cultural heritage that is both Muslim and seventh generation Australian’. Working primarily in sculpture, drawing and installation, Abdullah-Rahman takes a figurative approach to contextualise subjective memories as physical objects and installations. His processes use a range of mediums including clay, resin, silicone and bronze in conjunction with found objects and materials, as well as extensive use of technical mould making processes to achieve highly resolved pieces. Big Jihad explores the meaning of ‘the greater jihad’, which in Islam is the internal struggle with one’s nafs (the ego or commanding self). Abdullah describes this concept as the recognition of one’s humanity as forming the basis of his relationship to Islam.