Creating space for possibility
Published on 01 November 2025
Story: Lizzie Macaulay, Bigger Picture Business Solutions. Photo: Cody Fox, Cleva Media
When Kym Cunningham couldn't afford expensive art materials after moving house, she did what any resourceful artist would do. She grabbed her packing boxes and started experimenting. That practical beginning has evolved into an award-winning practice that's changing how people think about waste and creativity.
What she discovered in those early experiments was a love affair with an unlikely medium. "My most favourite material to work with is recycled cardboard," Kym says. She's drawn to the unpredictable and unique textures and shapes of discarded objects, finding creative possibilities where others see rubbish.
The Fraser Coast artist's recent Avant Garde win at the Australian Wearable Art Festival showcased just how far cardboard can go. The Lotus Queen & The Oil Merchant took more than 180 hours over six months to create, incorporating thousands of hand-cut painted cardboard elements, recycled Christmas decorations, placemats, a bike helmet, and even a deconstructed award-winning sculpture – all held together with over 1,000 hot glue sticks.
The piece tells a tragic love story about humanity's dependency on oil destroying the environment. "My aim with the piece was to provoke viewers to consider their personal dependency on oil," Kym explains. With the world using over 159 million litres of oil daily and current deposits expected to run out in 47 years, the message feels urgent.
For November's Waste to Art Competition, Kym is taking a lighter approach with Maude and Gladys, two goldfish wearing cowboy boots and hats, dancing and drinking cocktails. Made from recycled cardboard, soft drink bottles and fabric scraps, the sculpture shows Kym's range from serious environmental commentary to pure creative joy.
This playful spirit extends to her teaching philosophy. Her secret to making students feel comfortable? "Approach everyone with no judgment or competition, lots of patience and kindness... and make things fun."
Kym's broader mission is clear. She wants to show people that there is "another way" to make art. "You don't need expensive materials, you can make amazing things from recycled materials."
Looking ahead, Kym plans to resist the pressure to conform. "I'm not just creating artworks – I'm creating space for others to reimagine what's possible."
Kym's work will be on display at the 2025 Waste to Art Competition exhibition, opening 15 November at Gatakers Artspace and running until 3 January 2026. This year's competition features a new Wearable Art category with a fashion parade at the opening night. For more information, visit frasercoast.qld.gov.au/waste-to-art
This story appears in the November 2025 edition of Fraser Coast Scene, our monthly guide to What's On across our Cultural Services venues.
The creation of this story and photography was funded by Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Fraser Coast Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.