AiR and Exhibition: Faisal Abdu’Allah
Photo: blacfoundation.org
Candyfloss
Faisal Abdu’Allah
Artist in Residence: 2012
Exhibition: Dec - Jan 2012/3
The Royal London Hospital Gallery
Candyfloss is the outcome of Faisal’s residency at The Royal London Children’s Hospital this autumn. Over the course of six weeks, Faisal worked creatively with young patients to explore complex ideas around identity, helping them to develop a series of alter egos using Hasselblad, Polaroid and HD digital cameras. Faisal has developed a series of intriguing diptychs that explore physical and psychological transformation.
Faisal Abdu’Allah’s work primarily evolves from the interface of photography, the printed image and lens-based installations. He graduated in Fine Arts at the Royal College of Art in London.
This project is funded by Help A Capital Child.
About the artist
Faisal Abdu'Allah (b. 1969, London, UK) holds a BA from Central Saint Martins and an MA in Fine Arts from the Royal College of Art, London (1993). His multidisciplinary practice primarily evolves from the interface of photography, the printed image, and lens-based installations, often exploring themes of identity, race, and power. Awards include the Decibel Visual Arts Award (2005) and the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award (2012).
A key aspect of Abdu'Allah’s work is his dual role as both artist and barber, integrating hair cutting as a performative act. His art reflects both personal and collective histories, frequently drawing on his engagement with local communities.
Abdu'Allah has exhibited internationally at institutions such as Tate Britain, the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, and the Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Spain. His work is included in prominent collections such as the British Council and Tate. He is currently a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, where his practice continues to merge photography, performance, and community engagement with social commentary.
