Gilman Contemporary will present Alchemy of Memory, the debut solo exhibition of Hungarian American photographer Dora Somosi. The exhibition brings together works from two interconnected series, By Her Side and Mending, in which Somosi explores the rich blue tones of the cyanotype process. Through this historic medium, she reveals both the material beauty of the natural world and the inherent imperfections of the photographic process.

In By Her Side, Somosi creates a “chosen history” of twenty-five historical female artists and thinkers whose legacies are intertwined with the natural world.  Through exploration and pilgrimage, By Her Side is a contemplative study of the landscapes inhabited by each woman. Somosi’s arboreal portraits serve as living witnesses to these historical figures. By reimagining landscape as portraiture, Somosi successfully captures the essence of each historic figure.

Due to the cyanotype process, each photograph is hand printed revealing slight deviations in color.

From flawed and discarded cyanotypes, Somosi’s series Mending emerges. Inspired by Hungarian embroidery and needlework, Somosi embroiders over the rich blues of the cast aside prints, creating unique pieces that blend photography and tactile threadwork. Mending reframes repair as a method of creating, where reuse, slowness, and care are central. An in-depth exploration of the history and processes of natural dyeing is integral to the work. Here, alchemy is approached not as metaphor but as practice. Imperfect prints become new images, plants become pigment, and memory is reshaped through repair. Together, the two series position landscape as an active collaborator in an ongoing process of creation, reflection, and learning.

Gilman Contemporary Gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm.