Gallery Crossing presents ‘I’m at the river, I’ll meet you by the sea’ , the first solo exhibition by Grace Mirams (1996, Ōtepoti Dunedin, Aotearoa NZ). The exhibition, a collection of mono-printed works on silk, are informed by her research and connection to the Taieri River situated in the South Island of Aotearoa.

Mirams operates between the real world and the imagined; from her firm documentation of the river to her distant memories of it. The outcome is monochromatic, gestural and spirited; each print expressing the physical and textual qualities of this environment, from the curves of the river’s bend, to the muddy wetlands beside it.

Parallels can be drawn from this research to the Kiso and Nagoya river in Japan, for its significance as a place of rest, respite and gathering. Poetry written by Fujiwara no Sadayori and Fun’ya No Asayasu were a point of reference for Mirams to draw these connections, as their words visually unfold in the work.

This collection is a result of experimental and intuitive mark making. The process of rubbing, applying solvents and scratching away ink is iterative and curious. The print is then either rolled through a press or applied to silk with manual pressure, making each print one-of-a-kind.

In her process, she investigates the tension between the elements of chance and control. Mirams’ poetic compositions capture a moment in time, unveiling the stories between the river and the sea.

As the dawn mist
Thin in patches
On the Uji River,
In the shallows appear
Glistening stakes of fishing nets.

Fujiwara no Sadayori

【Artist talk】

"I'm at the river, I'll meet you by the sea"
A gallery talk by the artist will be held at our gallery on Sunday, August 6, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm.