Sylvia’s serene snap simply surreal

CRANBOURNE South photographer and Chisholm art student Sylvia Riley-King is still smiling after winning an art prize at a recent exhibition.
Ms Riley-King won $500 for her piece of photography at the Vital Exhibition at Dandenong’s Drum Theatre, which finished on Wednesday.
Her photo, called Serenity and taken inside a Buddhist temple, won the Jayco Photographic Prize in the competition open to Chisholm Institute students enrolled in any visual art and design program.
“I was ecstatic,” Ms Riley-King said. “I still can’t get over it, especially being in my first year. My sons are so proud of me.”
A mature-age student with four sons aged between 16 and 24, Ms Riley-King enrolled in the Certificate IV in Contemporary Art at Chisholm Dandenong to do something for herself, having not been back to study since Year 8.
She said taking the photos at the temple was fascinating.
“The monks let me into their world,” she said.
“I felt like the Gods were watching me. My photos were definitely from the heart.”
The Vital Exhibition often leads to employment opportunities, with the works on display also available for sale.
Ms Riley-King thanked her teachers David Salter and David Trout at Chisholm.
“They’ve both given me so much confidence. I enjoy the whole course.”