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Sharing Their Talents
Sydney
based artists Zeina Iaali and Idil Abdullahi will be sharing their talents with
an interstate audience for the first time in 2012 at the Islamic Council of
Victoria’s annual exhibition of contemporary Muslim artists You Am I.
The ICV exhibition is showing for the fourth consecutive year at the Hume Global
Learning Centre where thirty Australian Muslim artists from diverse backgrounds
explore a variety of mediums touching on themes ranging from identity and the
everyday -- to the Divine.
Script
by
Zeina Iaali
Hand
sculpted ebony, mother of pearl and Perspex sculptures (sizes range from 2cm to
15cm)
Zeina’s art captures the essence of Arabic calligraphy
- the lines, curves, rhythm and balance; the stroke of the scribe, attention to
detail and craftsmanship.
‘The
story of immigration doesn't apply to me directly as I was born and raised here,
Zeina explains. ‘But who I am is shaped by my parent’s migration to
Australia and all their hopes and dreams of a better life.’
As
she can’t read or write Arabic, Zeina uses her sculptures as her own way of
making sense of the Arabic language, depicting it as an object of beauty.
A
second-generation Arab Australian woman, Zeina’s exploration of her dual
identity is poignantly expressed through these stunning hand crafted sculptures.
Her experience resonates with
other second generation Australians.
Zeina
Iaali completed a Bachelor of Applied Arts with Honours at the College of Fine
Arts in 2000, and majored in Jewellery; she then studied a postgraduate Master
of Teaching course in Visual Arts at Sydney University and was a high school art
teacher for six years.
Idil Abdullahi, Dervish
Ceramic Vessels (x3) 20cm high x 20cm wide
Idil
Abdullahi is a community-based artist who spends much of her time engaging the
local refugee communities through her art practice. The three-piece ceramic
titled Dervish, shown above, captures the essence of what we associate
with images of the ‘whirling dervish’ and combines both culture and
spirituality. The viewer is engaged through the artist’s use of shape, colour
and texture.
Idil
is a recent graduate in Fine Arts from CoFa at the University of New South Wales.
Nur Shkembi
Nur Shkembi is a Melbourne-based contemporary artist and Arts Officer
at the Islamic Council of Victoria.
You Am I: An
exhibition of contemporary Muslim artists will be showing at the
Hume Global Learning Centre, 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows from February
15 until March 28, 2012. For exhibition details and opening hours please contact
the ICV: (03) 9328 2067 or the Hume Learning Centre: (03) 9356 6999 www.icv.org.au
Our two featured artists
are also involved in the Australian Muslim Women’s Art Project, (AMWAP).
The AMWAP exhibition is
showing at the Casula Powerhouse in Sydney: May 12 – July 8, 2012. For more
information see our Events
Page.
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