Photographer Dora Somosi explores the intricate relationship between nature, memory, and artistic process through her luminous hand-printed cyanotypes. Her exhibition Alchemy of Memory brings together two ongoing series — By her side and Mending — that collectively meditate on transformation, resilience, and the quiet power of repair. Somosi’s cyanotypes, rich in tonal depth and texture, evoke both the fragility and strength of remembrance, inviting viewers to consider how the act of creation can also become one of healing.

In By her side, Somosi transforms abstracted tree branches into poetic portraits of women whose creativity and intellect have profoundly influenced her worldview. Each branch, with its intertwining lines and organic complexity, stands as a metaphor for connection, growth, and legacy. The series becomes a visual tribute to the women artists, writers, and thinkers who have shaped not only Somosi’s artistic path but also the broader narrative of female creativity and endurance.

With her Mending series, Somosi turns her gaze inward, reworking discarded cyanotypes and test prints through delicate embroidery. Drawing on the traditions of Hungarian needlework and the Japanese art of kintsugi — the practice of mending broken pottery with gold to honor imperfection — she reimagines flaws as sites of renewal. Through this tactile process, Somosi weaves together memory and material, crafting a meditation on resilience, the passage of time, and the beauty found in restoration.