Melbourne’s Vibrant Streets Captured in STREET Zine by Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

STREET by Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud, launched on 31 January, is a zine capturing candid and portrait photographs of Melbourne’s evolving urban life, published by the Centre for Contemporary Photography and Perimeter Editions as part of the CCP.PE.ZINE series.

Introduction to STREET Zine

STREET by Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud is a zine published collaboratively by the Centre for Contemporary Photography and Perimeter Editions. It forms part of the CCP.PE.ZINE series, which celebrates young and emerging Australian photographers by providing them a platform to showcase their work in an accessible zine format. The zine officially launched on 31 January and is currently available to the public.

a man walks his dog across the road — STREET is published by the Centre for Contemporary Photography and Perimeter Editions.Share

three young women look to camera — The zine is part of the CCP.PE.ZINE series dedicated to providing a platform for emerging photographic artists to exhibit their work in an accessible zine format.Share

About the Photographic Work

The images featured in STREET are a series of portraits drawn from a larger body of work created across Melbourne over recent years. Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud explains the nature of these photographs as emerging organically from his experiences in the city.

“The images are a series of portraits drawn from a larger body of work made across Melbourne in recent years.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

two men stop at a street corner — ‘The images are a series of portraits drawn from a larger body of work made across Melbourne in recent years.’– Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

These photographs were not the result of staged or planned shoots but rather arose from time spent walking the streets and responding to interactions encountered along the way.

“The photographs emerged from time spent walking and responding to interactions rather than from staged or planned shoots.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

a man in a suit holding a bunch of flowers — ‘The photographs emerged from time spent walking and responding to interactions rather than from staged or planned shoots.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

Many of the images capture brief encounters where a person, a gesture, or a momentary pause in movement aligns just long enough to be photographed, reflecting the transient nature of urban life.

“Some of these images are the result of brief encounters where a person, a gesture, or a pause in movement aligns just long enough to be photographed.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

a woman stands on the street looking at camera next to some men who have their backs to the camera, one with the words “Pretty Girls Love Jesus” on his t shirt — ‘Some of these images are the result of brief encounters where a person, a gesture, or a pause in movement aligns just long enough to be photographed.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

Other photos resemble portraits taken after brief exchanges with the subjects, offering a more intimate glimpse into the individuals featured.

“Some photos are more like portraits, taken after a brief exchange with a person.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

A person stands on the street in black underwear, high heeled shoes, make up and red, long hair — ‘Some photos are more like portraits, taken after a brief exchange with a person.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

Mohamud describes these pictures as fragments that might reflect how daily life is experienced: in passing, in transition, and often without resolution.

“These pictures operate as fragments that might reflect how daily life is experienced: in passing, in transition, and often without resolution.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

two young girls stand on the street looking to camera — ‘These pictures operate as fragments that might reflect how daily life is experienced: in passing, in transition, and often without resolution.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

The photographs collectively offer a sense of the city at a specific moment in time, capturing the evolving atmosphere of Melbourne.

“The photographs offer a sense of the city at a moment in time.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

a woman is seen smoking on the street — ‘The photographs offer a sense of the city at a moment in time.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

Context and Significance

STREET is a collection of images made across Melbourne, featuring portraits and candid photographs that depict everyday life and people’s experiences in a city undergoing visible changes.

“STREET is a collection of images made across Melbourne; portraits and candid photographs of the everyday, of people’s experience of daily life in a city that is going through visible changes.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

a man looks to camera with a face mask on that is decorated in jewels — ‘STREET is a collection of images made across Melbourne; portraits and candid photographs of the everyday, of people’s experience of daily life in a city that is going through visible changes.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

The images included in the zine have been carefully selected from thousands of photographs Mohamud has taken over recent years. They provide an imperfect but evocative snapshot of fleeting encounters with people momentarily fixed into photographs.

“These images have been selected from thousands I have made over recent years, and they provide an imperfect snapshot of my fleeting encounters with people momentarily fixed into photographs.” – Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud

a young man talks on a phone whilst holding a baby on his chest in a baby carrier — ‘These images have been selected from thousands I have made over recent years, and they provide an imperfect snapshot of my fleeting encounters with people momentarily fixed into photographs.’ – Hussein Abdirahman MohamudShare

About the Photographer

Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud is a photographer, writer, and psychoanalyst in training based in Naarm / Melbourne, Australia. His multidisciplinary background informs his photographic work, which explores human interactions and urban life.

a man with long red hair and a moustache looks off camera on an intersection — Hussein Abdirahman Mohamud is a photographer, writer, and psychoanalyst in training based in Naarm / Melbourne, Australia.Share

Series Information

The CCP.PE.ZINE series, of which STREET is a part, focuses on a single body of work by artists selected by the Centre for Contemporary Photography. This initiative aims to provide emerging photographic artists with an accessible platform to exhibit their work.