A major new commission and solo installation by London-based Spanish artist Saelia Aparicio. Using installation, sculpture and large-scale mural drawings to weave together narrative, science fiction and ecological speculation, ‘A Joyful Parasite’ explores the complex entanglements between bodies, environments and systems of care. The installation will be reconfigured for each location and for Southwark Park Galleries a new sculptural work will respond to the distinctive architecture of Dilston Gallery, a deconsecrated Grade II Listed church, and our position within the park.

Commissioned by Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (until 8 March 2026), in partnership with Southwark Park Galleries, London, and The Burton at Bideford, North Devon (opening late 2026).

This exhibition is generously supported by Foundation Foundation, Henry Moore Foundation, Arts Council England and made possible thanks to the support of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E).

Artist Bio

Saelia Aparicio (b. 1982, Valladolid, Spain; based in London) has had recent solo exhibitions with blink of collapse, 36th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Slovenia (2025); MUSAC, León, Spain (2022); FUMI, London (2022); The Ryder, Madrid, Spain (2019); and TURF Projects, Croydon (2017). In 2021 her work was selected for Survey II, a touring exhibition across Jerwood Space, London; G39, Cardiff; and Site Gallery, Sheffield (2020–22). Aparicio was recipient of the Generaciones 2019, one of the most prestigious awards for emerging artists in Europe, and was commissioned by Serpentine Galleries for their General Ecology programme. She has delivered public programming at Open School East (2022), CA2M Madrid (2023) and EBC, Bristol (2024).