TITLE: Sanctuary


There is place I have been returning to that delivers rest from my fears. At this
place, the traffic in my mind comes to a halt and the salient waters immobilise
my thoughts on only now. It is here that I find solace enough to see my way
clear. I watch the swallows dance amidst the graceful melaleuca
and I am still. The deep blacks echo darkness that engulfs, white signals hope,
grace, trust. When they merge there is only quiet. It is a sanctuary and I hold it in my mind.

AUTHOR: Viki Murray (Australia)

Biography
Born 1967 - raised in Westernport Bay, Victoria
Photography Major HSC - Toorak College, Mt Eliza 1985
Media Arts - Phillip Institute, Bundoora, Melbourne 1986/7.
Studies at Phillip Institute grounded her in the craft of analog black and white photography - specifically printing and darkroom techniques. OS travel interrupted formal studies
Settling in the outback area of Lightning Ridge in 1990, working out of a private darkroom; a period of commercial portraiture followed.
Since 1992 Viki has exhibited locally in a gallery space she shares with her partner.
Viki ventured into digital photo artistry via online studies in 2014.
Member of Kaizen and Awake - a forum of creative photographers mentored by Sebastian Michaels; founder of the international magazine “Awake – Living the Photo Artistic Life” Since joining this forum she has featured in several issues of the magazine and the Australian sub group and publication Artists Down Under.

Creative works on her Instagram gallery have been featured by Artistry Flair, Mobile Mag and MCL Arts.
Exhibitions:
1995 - " Living on the Edge " - collaborative exhibition with John Murray - Park Hyatt Regency – Canberra
1995 - “Outside the Gate" - Collaborative exhibition with John Murray -Bourke Riverside Gallery
1996 "Aquatica Exotica" - Solo exhibit -John Murray Art Gallery, Lightning Ridge. 1997 A Bloody Big Beach" - Collaborative exhibition with John Murray - images of Broome WA. John Murray Art Gallery, Lightning Ridge.
2010 - "Just Passing Through" - solo exhibition – John Murray Art Gallery
2017 – “Along the Way” – collaborative exhibition – Outback Arts Coonamble
2017 - “Tree Place” Collaborative exhibition - Wan’din’in Arts Space, Eumundi QLD
Prizes:
2012 -1st Prize - Landscape – Images of the Australian Opal Fields. 2012 -1st Prize - Open – Images of the Australian Opal Fields
2015 - Finalist - Outback Archies - Outback Arts Coonamble
2016 - Finalist - Outback Archies - Outback Arts Coonamble
2017 - Ist Prize Photography - Outback Archies - Outback Arts Coonamble
2018 - Forest Bathing. Solo Exhibition Campbelltown Arts Centre
2018 - Finalist and winner of Packers Prize - Outback Archies, Outback Arts Coonamble
2018 - Finalist Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Campbelltown Arts Centre
2018 - Finalist Australian Photography Prize
2018 - Finding Solace, group exhibition Noosa Regional Gallery

Publications:
Just Passing Through - 2010
21 Days in Rajasthan - 2010
Snapshots of Lightning Ridge - 2012
Holden On - A Special Tribute to the Classics - 2016
Everywhere You Go Becomes a Part of You - 2018