Marie Salinger: Solas

Underpinned by the central theme Solas (Gaelic for light) these works were deeply personal delving into places where art, nature and healing intersect. Influenced by the environments of North East Victoria this body of work investigated the idea of thresholds and in between spaces such as the crevices in granite rocks, the etched lines created by scribbly gum moths under the bark of gum trees and the fine spider web like mycorrhizal fungi that penetrates the soil. The works explored the notion of transience, liminal spaces and the interconnectedness of all life forms. In tandem with these states was a sense of chaos, chance and loss - the ebb and flow of the life journey we are all on.

Solas attempted to shed light on the incredible power of art and nature that can provide solace, hope and healing in times of darkness and despair.

Artist Bio
Marie Salinger is a visual artist based in North East Victoria. Her creative practice incorporates painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, and photography. Salinger studied Art at Melbourne State College and in 2018, following a long career as an arts educator, she committed to her visual arts practice full-time. Her art practice is deeply contemplative, allowing space and time to investigate the natural world and what lies out of sight, such as the organic marks created by scribbly gum moths under the bark of gum trees. Working intuitively, she responds to the ebb and flow of life and is deeply influenced by the environs of the Ovens River, Beechworth Gorge, Stanley Forest, and the diverse and historic gardens at Mayday Hills where her art studio is situated. Salinger’s work echoes the organic qualities of nature and explores the notion of transience, liminal spaces, and the interconnectedness of all life forms.