Waters Rising

This exhibition ran from 08 November 2024 – 16 March 2025 and has now concluded.

Waters Rising traces stories and objects connected to flooding from Scotland and abroad, from biblical accounts to Ancient Egypt to North America, and more recent events closer to home. Exploring the growing threat of the global climate emergency whilst examining the impact of flooding and extreme weather events on communities, businesses, and infrastructure in Perth and Kinross, the exhibition also includes photos, memories, and stories from local people.

Hero image artwork In the Land of Giants by Norval Morrisseau

Putting the local experience in a global context, Waters Rising features an Egyptian sarcophagus with Nile flood damage, a rare illuminated bible from the thirteenth century, ceremonial brass bowls commemorating the Hindu flood myth of Vasudeva and Krishna, eighteenth and nineteenth-century etchings and mezzotints of Noah’s Great Flood, and more contemporary works from renowned Indigenous Canadian artist Norval Morrisseau, and Scottish artists Will Maclean and Alan Kilpatrick. Visitors will be inspired to take action through stories and objects from the climate movement in Scotland today.

In the Land of Giants by Norval Morrisseau

Flooded Aberfeldy by Sam Hayles

Perthshire Flooding by Alex Cowper, December 1946.

South Inch, August 2020 - Credit Wol Gilbraith

Personal items such as letters and photos are often listed as the most missed items following floods.

As part of the exhibition, Perth Museum invited the public to submit photographs of flooding in their local area. The photos have created a central display displaying the community’s lived experiences. Alongside this, Perth Museum are also inviting the public to share memories, handwritten onto postcards created by the museum. These blank postcards are available to write and submit at designated points in Perth Museum, Perth Art Gallery and Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries. This community sourced collection will act as a new physical archive of flood memories, both past and present.

Resources

Below are a list of resources and links supplied to us by partners to help combat flooding. This list is not exhaustive and we would suggest getting in touch with the Scottish Flood Forum, or checking out what groups are available in your local area.

Scottish Flood Forum Flood Protection Guide (opens a PDF)

Scottish Flood Forum Ready for Flooding (opens a PDF)

Scottish Flood Forum Your Household Resilience Plan (opens a PDF)