Ian Abdulla Ian Abdulla i(A48552 works by) (a.k.a. Ian W. Abdulla; Ian Wayne Abdulla; Ian Abdullah)
Born: Established: 1947 Swan Reach, Mid Murray area, Murray - Mallee area, South Australia, ; Died: Ceased: 29 Jan 2011 Berri, Barmera - Berri area, Riverlands, Murray - Mallee area, South Australia,
Gender: Male
Heritage: Aboriginal ; Afghan ; Aboriginal Ngarrindjeri
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BiographyHistory

Ian Abdulla's mother, Jemima Hunter, was from Raukkan (Port McLeay) and his father was an Afghan man from Hawker in the Flinders Ranges. He and his twin brother Rodney were born under a tree on the banks of the lower River Murray at Swan Reach Mission in 1947.

In 1961, Abdullah's family moved to Gerard Aboriginal Community. He worked in the rural industry: picking grapes, monitoring irrigation and driving machinery. Abdullah's experience with Christianity during his childhood and adult life is reflected in some of his artwork. Examples of his art work are held in many private and public collections and are also the subject of the book Ian W. Abdulla : Elvis has left the Building (2003).

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • The National Library of Australia also holds a selection of biographical cuttings on Ian Abdulla in its collection.

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon Tucker South Australia : Omnibus Books , 1994 Z849399 1994 single work single work single work picture book autobiography children's (taught in 1 units)

The Murray River of the 1950s was full of fish, and its surrounding landscape covered with vineyards and orchards. As a young boy Ian ranged along its banks and backwaters, catching yabbies, hunting swans and camping along the creeks at night while fishing for pondi, or cod.

But if tucker was plentiful, money was not, for there were few employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Ian's narrative paintings recall the stories of his youth.
1995 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards — Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
y separately published work icon Tucker South Australia : Omnibus Books , 1994 Z849399 1994 single work single work single work picture book autobiography children's (taught in 1 units)

The Murray River of the 1950s was full of fish, and its surrounding landscape covered with vineyards and orchards. As a young boy Ian ranged along its banks and backwaters, catching yabbies, hunting swans and camping along the creeks at night while fishing for pondi, or cod.

But if tucker was plentiful, money was not, for there were few employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Ian's narrative paintings recall the stories of his youth.
1995 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards — Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
y separately published work icon As I Grew Older : The Life and Times of a Nunga Growing Up Along the River Murray Norwood : Omnibus Books , 1993 Z849282 1993 single work picture book children's

'Ian Abdulla's paintings and text offer a snapshot of an Aboriginal family living on a small stretch of the Murray River in South Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. This was a time of immense and profound environmental and social change when the assimilation policy still existed and there were few employment opportunities for Aborigines.

'Ian's personal story of survival affirms the culture of rural Aborigines who despite being dispossessed have been determined to stay on the land.' (Publication summary)
1994 winner Australian Multicultural Children's Literature Awards — Picture Book section
VIEW ALL AWARDS
Last amended 11 Mar 2024 14:48:24
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