<p Western Australia is becoming the stage for a provocative new body of sculpture. Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, a Perth-based artist, has begun a series that reimagines Australia’s introduced species as preserved, mummy-like forms. The project draws its visual and conceptual spark from a collection of animal mummies housed in the Chau Chak Wing Museum and invites viewers to examine how settlement, ecology and memory intersect in the Australian landscape.
<p Abdullah describes the effort as an inquiry into how culture stores and interprets memory around species that arrived with colonisation. The works aim to echo ancient preservation practices while foregrounding the challenges posed by feral animals and the ecological baggage they carry. The process remains in development, with the artist experimenting with forms, textures and wrapping techniques to create a dialogue between past and present.
What we know
- Abdullah is a Western Australian sculptor actively developing the series.
- The focus is on introduced feral species rather than native wildlife.
- The conceptual seed comes from animal mummies in the Chau Chak Wing Museum.
- The works are presented in a sculptural, mummy-inspired language.
- The project is in progress and part of a broader conversation about ecology, memory and the human footprint.
The approach signalises a deliberate shift in how audiences encounter wildlife and history in art. Abdullah’s method blends tactile craft with symbolic wrapping that evokes preservation, ceremony and decay, inviting viewers to reflect on how societies record and respond to species that have become entwined with Australia’s ecological narrative. While details about a formal exhibition schedule remain unclear, the works are shaping up to become a talking point among local galleries and environmental art circles.
Beyond the visual drama, supporters say the project foregrounds a difficult conversation about the ecological consequences of settlement and the ongoing presence of feral animals in many landscapes. By referencing museum collections, Abdullah anchors the new works in a long history of display and interpretation, while pressing viewers to consider who controls such narratives and for what purpose.
What we don’t know
- Exact exhibition dates and venue details have not been publicly announced yet.
- Specific species depicted in the works remain undisclosed.
- Materials and techniques beyond general sculpture have not been fully disclosed.
- The installation design and whether pieces will travel interstate or internationally are as yet unknown.
- How audiences will respond and what critical reception will be, remains to be seen.
As the project progresses, observers will watch closely how Abdullah’s mummy-inspired figures navigate questions of aesthetics, ethics and ecological accountability. If the series reaches wider audiences, it could shift conversation around the fate of feral species and the ecological costs tied to colonisation—encouraging a more nuanced public dialogue about Australia’s complex wildlife story.
