With the completion of construction work on Arden Station in North Melbourne, the large-scale artwork by artist Abdul Abdullah also comes to an end. Coming together.
Featuring two large-scale aluminium hands, the artwork recreates JS Calder’s painting ‘View from Royal Park over West Melbourne Swamp’ (1860) in a living mosaic, connecting western Melbourne’s past with its future.
Over the past few weeks, teams have been installing artwork created as part of the Metro Tunnel Legacy Artwork Program, which provides world-class public art experiences for visitors and users of the Metro Tunnel.
The hands represent the coming together of the people connected to the Arden region – from the indigenous people of the Kulin Nation, through subsequent waves of migration, to future generations when Arden is transformed into a new district.
Abdullah, a seventh generation Australian of mixed-race Muslim descent, uses his art to address complex feelings of displacement and alienation that come with the history of diaspora and migration.
He gives voice to these difficult issues and writes carefully crafted political commentary that speaks to the “other” and the experiences of marginalized communities.
At the intersection of popular culture, contemporary conflicts and personal experiences, Abdullah’s works renegotiate stories, creating space for alternative possibilities and new conversations.
“I grew up next to a train station and always viewed it as a hub where different communities come together,” he said.
His work has been exhibited in Australian institutions including the National Gallery of Australia and the Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2019 he was awarded the inaugural Australian Muslim Artist Art Prize.
Major construction work on the station was completed earlier this year and it will open in 2025 as part of the Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham line.
The new station near the corner of Arden Street and Laurens Street is the first of five completed Metro Tunnel stations.
A sustainable transport hub will be created within walking distance of the North Melbourne Recreation Centre, Arden Street Oval and tram route 57.
Works included the creation of a dedicated pedestrian crossing on Laurens Street, lay-bys and taxi ranks directly outside the station on Laurens Street, over 120 bicycle parking spaces, segregated bicycle lanes on Laurens Street and public parking near the station entrance.
