Vienna-born Hedi Argent was bullied at school for being Jewish. As a child, she thought of her doll Susi as a friend. Anti-Jewish laws forced Hedi’s family to flee Austria for England in early 1939, just six weeks before the borders closed. Told by her parents that she could only take one toy, Hedi realized that she could not fit Susi in her suitcase, so she instead took Little Susi, an identical smaller doll which “belonged” to Susi. For more than 80 years, Little Susi has remained a trusted friend and confidant to Hedi throughout her life in England. Hedi’s story is brought to life by animator Stivens Luyo.

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Aurora Zinder grew up in Odessa, Russia, surviving under oppressive Soviet rule. In 1942, her father died fighting fascists in Ukraine. By the late 1970s, antisemitism in the USSR had grown so severe that Aurora and her family were forced to flee. Mindful of the corrupt whims of customs officials, they made difficult choices about which items they could bring with them on their journey to New York. A suitcase containing rare china survived the journey and these precious heirlooms still connect Aurora to her history. Her story is brought to life by artist Jacqueline Nicholls.

What Would You Bring? is an online exhibition of refugee stories, told from the perspective of the things people brought with them on their journeys. Creator Juliet Simmons shares how wondering what her grandfather brought with him when he travelled from Vienna to the UK in the 1930s inspired the project.