Cricket Saleh's current exhibition The Periphery explores intimate moments of everyday life, juxtaposed with floral portraits. A unique take on the genre of still life, her photographs appear painterly. 

Cricket is known for recognising the beauty in decay, we see this in the slug ravished flower, the unmade bed; allegories of life and all its complexities. This exhibition incorporates for the first time a series of diptychs, a revelation in the artist's practice as she unites contrasting images to create intrigue. Draped french linen seems to reference ruffles and creases in the petals, a lovely synchronicity. 

The Periphery is sparsely hung in our vast Big Boom gallery so the works have space to breathe. A sense of calm envelopes the viewer as you enter, we invite you to sit on a pew and contemplate this beautiful show. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

"From its infancy I was sure The Periphery was haunted work.

The light had changed. It pulsated different. Differently if I am to use grown up words. The light it pulsated differently. It had the markings of Howl, all human at its most fundamental. Howl, however, was haunted from within the frame.

The Periphery, it was being watched. The haunting was outside the frame. I now, at its conclusion, surmise it was either the past or the future that was watching. Meandering occasionally into the work. Guiding the conversation a little. Whispering as I worked. Almost indecipherably. As I worked it whispered and guided. For a godless creature as I the process was sometimes and often, a lot. So now, at its hanging, I give it, the work, the occasional prop. A prop or two, a position or two, from which to watch."

BIO

Cricket Saleh works in Photography. In a professional context she is highly sought after for her completely unique approach to image making. She has a seemingly effortless ability to capture the feeling and atmosphere of a concept. In her arts practice Cricket explores the genre of Still Life, simultaneously referencing art historical understandings of the medium and subverting it.

She creates the illusion of a painted surface through considered lighting. Her works are crisp; simple compositions, tangible texture and moody tones. Cricket's photographs depict an ongoing interest in the ephemeral nature of life. Beauty, indulgence, consumption and decay are underlying themes in her artwork. We are thrilled that Cricket's work This Too Shall Pass was recently acquired into the permanent collection of the Geelong Gallery.