Mathew Murray’s photographs are a reflection of his own life experiences. Wherever he goes he takes his camera, and the result is an amalgamation of images that tell different stories.

Murray’s recent Animal series documents not only Zoos and Safari Parks, but the ways in which modern zoos now combine leisure parks, gift shops, ‘sponsor an animal’ options, be a zoo keeper for a day etc. In addition to this, it looks at the representation of animals, and how that representation varies historically and culturally documenting the obvious and the not so obvious in everyday life, living and dead.…

Mathew Murray’s photographs are a reflection of his own life experiences. Wherever he goes he takes his camera, and the result is an amalgamation of images that tell different stories.

Murray’s recent Animal series documents not only Zoos and Safari Parks, but the ways in which modern zoos now combine leisure parks, gift shops, ‘sponsor an animal’ options, be a zoo keeper for a day etc. In addition to this, it looks at the representation of animals, and how that representation varies historically and culturally documenting the obvious and the not so obvious in everyday life, living and dead. By doing this Murray attempts to encourage us to consider how we look at animals.

A few of the works shown here are from a series entitled “Factor 15”, which looks at the different ways in which people choose to spend their leisure time, from the incredible to the ridiculous. Seen individually, they reveal a sense of enjoyment, without being cynical or derogatory to the subjects. But seen together, they begin to reveal a series of acute personal observations about similarities and differences stretching across a range of personal and cultural borders.

Murray thrives to offer direct visual pleasure through his work. His genuine passion for regular people and everyday things can be seen by the instinctive pureness of fun demonstrated in his work, as opposed to a denigration of his subject, which is often seen in ‘everyday’ photography.

Murray’s trademark quintessential ‘British-ness’ is decidedly coloured and unpretentious, making his work universal in its delight. These photographs unintentionally have a tendency to make the viewer smile. They constantly critique representation, by essentially capturing the bizarre in everyday life.

As well as his personal projects, Murray also receives commissions from major advertising agencies in the UK and abroad. His work has been published in selected magazines such as, i-D magazine, Benetton Colors Magazine, FreeEye (Amsterdam) and dwell Magazine (San Francisco). He has exhibited work in the UK and Internationally.