'On rushed the yellow flood, crashing, and dashing and hurling Timber and logs and posts in the whirl of the foaming deep...' After the Flood, Dora Wilcox 1897
Torrent marks the rise of extreme worldwide weather events, something we are familiar with in Australia with our droughts, bushfires and flooding rains.
Torrent marks the rise of extreme worldwide weather events, something we are familiar with in Australia with our droughts, bushfires and flooding rains. Torrent highlights how these challenges are becoming more potent as we face the pressures of climate change. We have deliberately used natural materials, gathered from various Australian bush locations, to affirm the importance of our connection to nature. Torrent is a 20 metre long 'river' of curved eucalypt branches suspended in a swirling pattern, reminiscent of the flow of the rushing floodwater. The installation is illuminated by colour changing LED lighting and emphasises the beauty and dynamism of the natural environment.
Artist: Ruth McDermott and Ben Baxter
Date: 2019
Medium: Found object, branches, Metal net, RGB LED, cord, DMX colour changing control.
Dimension: 20m x 10m
Award: LIT Lighting Design Awards 2026 - Honorable Mentions
Special thanks: to Mathew Webster, Kimi Jiang and Mathew Lai
