Torrent

Grassland Art Gallery is proud to present Torrent, a powerful and deeply moving exhibition by acclaimed artist Miriam Innes. Known for her large-scale charcoal drawings of urban landscapes, Miriam swapped her favourite medium of charcoal for a knife to create this extraordinary body of work. The result is a breathtaking collection of hand-cut papercut artworks that capture the raw beauty and devastation left in the wake of the 2022 Gympie floods, the largest to ever hit the region, destroying homes, livelihoods, and businesses.

Following the disaster, Miriam was approached by Gympie Regional Council to create an exhibition that reflected the community’s experience. Engaging directly with those affected was central to her creative process, as the floods had touched every corner of the community. What struck her most was the immense amount of silt left behind when the waters receded, a silent reminder of the destruction and the resilience that followed. Miriam collected silt from each bridge where access had been cut off, and each bridge is now represented in a diorama light box within the exhibition.

The exhibition’s central work, a monumental nine by three metre hand-cut paper installation, was created entirely by hand over three months. Miriam used only a scalpel and her instinct, no drawing, just cutting, to build an intricate landscape that reflects both loss and renewal. The process of cutting and removing mirrors the actions of the floodwaters themselves, shaping and reshaping the land and lives in their path.

During her time in Tambo, Miriam also dedicated two days to working with the local school and wider community to create a collaborative artwork — a small bottle tree sculpture whose leaves and branches tell Tambo’s unique story. Each participant contributed their own drawing or papercut, symbolising a personal connection to the town and its people. Miriam will now take these drawings and cut-out leaves and branches and have them transferred into metal cut-outs, creating a permanent sculpture for Grassland Art Gallery. This legacy piece will serve as a lasting tribute to community spirit, creativity, and the shared stories that bind Tambo together.

Through Torrent, Miriam Innes reminds us that from chaos and destruction can emerge beauty, connection, and shared strength.

Torrent will be on display until the beginning of December.