Sabsabi has a passion and commitment for challenging stereotypes and bringing under-represented stories from within the Muslim community to light and sharing them with the broader Australian community.
SYDNEY, Australia, 22 Sep: Khaled Sabsabi, a Lebanese-Australian Muslim, has been honored with the inaugural Creative Australia Award for visual arts on Monday, 18 September, AMUST reported this morning.
Sabsabi is the man who is the driving force behind Powerhouse (Museum) Parramatta’s ‘Moments In Waiting’ project and also author of the recently released book, Khaled Sabsabi – A collection of essays on the artist and his work.
Sabsabi has a passion and commitment for challenging stereotypes and bringing under-represented stories from within the Muslim community to light and sharing them with the broader Australian community.
And he is truly in his element in terms of the ‘Moments In Waiting’ project where the primary focus is on the sacred and spiritual stories behind rare and holy items that Australian Muslim families across Greater Sydney have in their possession.
These items will be showcased to the general public through Powerhouse Parramatta from the time of the Museum’s grand opening in 2025.
“It’s a huge honour to receive this award, given the pool of exceptional visual artists out there – I was shocked and in disbelief when I got the call,” Sabsabi told ABC Television’s Ros Childs.
“It’s a huge accolade given that the award is actually coming from my high-achieving peers in the industry and a huge highlight of my career….and a great feeling, as well.”
Sabsabi describes his work as, “going between the political and the spiritual and the everyday, blurring those components or elements and acknowledging the everyday – all while promoting cultural understanding.”
A strong advocate for cultural diversity, Khaled says that his work is an inseparable part of who he is and what he has experienced.
Upon announcing Mr. Sansabi’s award success, Creative Australia said: “Khaled’s practice is sustained and extraordinary; he is a champion of the diversity of Australian art and his contribution is only just starting to be properly acknowledged.”
“This award will be significant in celebrating Khaled’s talent and contribution to visual arts.”
Plans are underway for a select display of some of the ‘Moments In Waiting’ artefacts to be presented at the Lebanese Muslim Association’s National Mosque Open Day (NMOD) at Lakemba Mosque on Saturday, 28 October.
