Underwater visual arts exhibition comes to Murray Bridge
Skopos, by Susie Althorp, explores the intersection of art, science, and technology in the natural world.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Country Arts SA and Murray Bridge Regional Gallery.
Murray Bridge has become the first regional area to experience an immersive visual arts exhibition exploring the delicate ecosystems of the ocean, including the algae that has dominated our newsfeeds.
Skopos – meaning “to examine” in ancient Greek – was commissioned by Country Arts SA through the 2025 Breaking Ground Award, a visual arts professional development opportunity presented in partnership with SALA Festival and Praxis Artspace, where Skopos debuted in August and September 2025.
Artist Susie Althorp, based at Wallaroo Mines on the Yorke Peninsula, drew on her proximity to the coastline to collect seaweed specimens, reproduce them in ceramic form and install the art in a way that creates an interactive underwater world.
It is currently at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery for a two-month stint.
“It’s about making visible that world that no-one gets to see,” Althorp said.
“I remember vividly the sense of awe I first experienced as a child looking down the eyepiece of a microscope at a new world.
“I aim to create that feeling of wonder and discovery for the viewer.”
The exhibition was enriched by Althorp’s volunteer work at the South Australian State Herbarium; and by her Breaking Ground mentor, renowned Adelaide-based artist Catherine Truman, who also bridges science and art.
Country Arts SA visual arts manager Lauren Mustillo said Althorp’s project was a powerful example of how contemporary artists could bridge disciplines and spark new ways of seeing.
“Susie’s work is an evocative fusion of science and art,” Ms Mustillo said.
“She draws on the discipline of scientific research and the emotional resonance of personal memory to create works that are both intellectually and sensorially rich.
“Her Breaking Ground project captures the fragile beauty of the marine world and invites us to see nature with renewed curiosity and care.”
Skopos will exhibit at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery until Sunday, April 12 before travelling to Kadina, Port Pirie and Goolwa across 2026 and 2027.
The gallery invites you to enjoy an afternoon with the artist, in conversation with her mentor, at 2pm on Sunday, March 29.
The event will be free of charge.
- RSVP for the artist talk: events.humanitix.com/in-conversation-susie-althorp-catherine-truman.
- More information: Visit www.countryarts.org.au or www.murraybridgegallery.com.au.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
