Opening in April 2026 at Edinburgh Printmakers are two exhibitions from artist Susan Aldworth whose work explores our sense of self.
In the immersive installation BELONGINGS, anti-immigration narratives are challenged as it aims to create pathways for belonging with people seeking sanctuary. Featuring the imagined contents of the suitcase the artist’s grandmother brought with her when she was migrating from Northern Italy to London in 1924, the installation features thirty-five individual antique clothes. Suspended in mid-air, they highlight the transitory and emotional nature of an uprooted life.
In Gallery 2, Modern Alchemy sees the artist share the results of a collaboration with Dr Amanda Jarvis of the University of Edinburgh whose research in sustainable chemistry explore how to make chemical synthesis greener including recycling and replacing precious metals with cheaper, more abundant alternatives.
BELONGINGS has grown in response to current discussion, tension and research into global migration, forced displacement, sanctuary and mental health where political rhetoric ignores individual stories of hope, change, refuge and difficulty. This exhibition explores the artist's grandmother’s migration just over a hundred years ago (1924) in the context of the large number of women currently seeking refuge from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Syria today, driven by her desire to share how every refugee or migrant has their own story to tell and her distress about the current hard-line anti-immigration stance of the UK government accompanied by a growing anti-immigrant rhetoric in the media. In the immersive installation, 35 antique pieces of clothing are hand embroidered with family photographs, recipes, messages and stories. Responding to the installation throughout its run will be a series of artworks created by migrant groups based in Edinburgh.
Modern Alchemy in Gallery 2 will debut a new series of prints created in partnership with Dr Amanda Jarvis. In 2023 Aldworth was awarded a commission by ASCUS Art & Science to make a series of experimental works in response to Dr Jarvis’ research whose long-term aim is to develop more sustainable catalytic chemistry. To mirror the ambition of Jarvis’ laboratory to reduce, recycle or replace expensive metals in catalysis, Aldworth decided to work in etching, switching from expensive copper and zinc etching plates to cheaper steel plates. By throwing chemicals into the aquatint resin before it was fired onto the plate surface, Aldworth developed a visual equivalence of catalysis– capturing a moment of chemical reaction.
Speaking ahead of the exhibitions, artist Susan Aldworth said:
“It upsets me to find out through my research into my family history that nothing much has changed in terms of migrant experience in 100 years in terms of stigma, prejudice and being kept an outsider. It seems to take 3 generations to feel that you BELONG. Despite evidence of the positive impact of immigration on cultural and economic life in the UK over centuries, being from a migrant, exile or refugee background can impact on life chances and well-being as it still carries stigma and prejudice.I decided to tell my grandmother’s story in the hope it will resonate with many.
“Working with Dr Amanda Jarvis was fascinating. Amanda is part of a team of scientists exploring whether using chemistry alongside biology can change how metals bind within a catalyst, so that we don't have to mine these very expensive metals that damage the environment. I found that really exciting and got to etch some of my plates in her laboratory and use Aqua Regia - an acid compound used in medieval times to dissolve gold. So the laboratory became the studio, and as these experiments are not to create riches but protect the environment I feel this is a kind of modern alchemy. My prints reflect these experiments where in some cases gold leaf is added to the print following the reactive mark marking and I’m excited to show these works together for the first time.”
Edinburgh Printmakers Chief Executive, Janet Archer said:
“Susan Aldworth’s award winning impactful work has engaged audiences in the UK and internationally and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the response to two very different exhibitions here at Edinburgh Printmakers. Susan’s background in philosophy, and strong interest in investigating the workings of the human mind and our sense of self shows up in different ways for both of these exhibitions. The hugely powerful and moving installation BELONGINGS helps us relate to and connect with the humanity of every migrant’s journey. In Modern Alchemy Susan brings her career experience of working as an artist-in-residence in a medical or academic setting. This access to scientists, patients and health professionals as well as philosophers and art historians brings its own particular type of alchemy as Susan shares her gift of using printmaking to capture the complexities of scientific research.”
The University of Edinburgh’s Dr Amanda Jarvis said:
“Working with Susan Aldworth has been a brilliant experience. I was amazed how quickly conversations turned towards some of the fundamentals of Chemistry such as atoms and bonding, as well as covering the more accessible aspects of chemistry such as sustainability and the role chemistry will play in making our world greener. It was illuminating to see some of the similarities between the artist and scientist – the use of sketch book/ lab book to record observations and notes, but also the differences, how feelings are often excluded from the scientific experiment. I’ve always wanted to work with artists to produce work that is based on science but is not overtly scientific which I think we have here. I’m excited to see these pieces bring chemistry to a wider audience.”
Susan Aldworth: Modern Alchemy is part of the Edinburgh Science Festival 2026 and is supported by ASCUS Art & Science.
