The World Came Flooding In

An XR installation by Isobel Knowles & Van Sowerwine, where stories from flood affected people highlight how we embody household objects with meaning, feeling and memory.

In The World Came Flooding In, lost objects and spaces are recreated by the artists in collaboration with flood affected people. Virtual reality, projections, miniatures, photographs and sound are thoughtfully orchestrated, exploring the rich inner world that remains when everything has been washed away.

We hear from three people - Marina, Antoinette and Tom, in their own words as they share their stories of living through a flood, separated by thousands of kilometres but connected by shared experience. Using cardboard and other simple materials, the artists artfully recreate the lost homes of each storyteller in miniature, then, via photogrammetry the rooms are translated into virtual reality.

The result is an evocative and wondrous tour through memory spaces. This is a lyrical and unique experiential work that explores personal memory, grief and loss, and the shared experience of an extreme climate event.

Content advisory

Please be aware that this exhibition includes themes and imagery relating to flooding and disaster events.

These themes may be distressing for visitors who have been personally affected by floods or related experiences.