over, this capability is fundamentally acquired
through an awareness of self and an awakening of
latent qualities inside each of us. Tapping into the
intangible, members of Squad embody resistance
to the confines of culture that otherwise would
impede their true potential.
Abdu’Allah’s works establish themselves as more
than ordinary images once the viewer obtains a
greater understanding of the various levels within
the process of selection. The selection process
inherent in The Last Supper I and The Last Supper II,
Adeve, and Squad is illuminated as issues of representation and identity surface, asking the viewer to
consider how they view themselves and how others
view them. Without participating in this project, I
would not have come to realize my own bravery
and confidence. What lies beneath the façade of an
individual—or group of individuals—is greater
than what appears on the surface. Within the
context of Abdu’Allah’s works, conclusions cannot
be reached with a purely visual examination of an
individual. To understand the inherent qualities of
the individuals in Abdu’Allah’s works, a personal
exchange must occur.
— Mikayla Lofton
12
Squad