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Narrative of dis-ease

Photograph
1989 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Feminist artist Jo Spence was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982. She made a series of self-portraits documenting her battle with the disease until her death a decade later. The photographs expressed her physical and emotional state. Her doctor and collaborator Tim Sheard explained, ‘Spence is representing the honest emotions felt living in an unruly body that cannot conform to the pressures of female perfection expected and idealised in Western society.’


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleNarrative of dis-ease (series title)
Materials and techniques
Colour photograph
Brief description
Photograph by Jo Spence, in collaboration with Dr. Tim Sheard, 'Exiled' from the series Narratives of dis-ease, C-type print, 1989
Physical description
Colour photo, woman's naked torso with the word 'Monster'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 64.6cm
  • Width: 40.6cm
Credit line
Given by Terry Dennett and The Jo Spence Memorial Archive
Object history
Jo Spence made this work in collaboration with Dr. Tim Sheard, after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982. She made a series of self-portraits documenting her battle with the disease until her death a decade later. These photographs expressed her physical and emotional state. Her doctor and collaborator Tim Sheard explained, ‘Spence is representing the honest emotions felt living in an unruly body that cannot conform to the pressures of female perfection expected and idealised in Western society.’
Summary
Feminist artist Jo Spence was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982. She made a series of self-portraits documenting her battle with the disease until her death a decade later. The photographs expressed her physical and emotional state. Her doctor and collaborator Tim Sheard explained, ‘Spence is representing the honest emotions felt living in an unruly body that cannot conform to the pressures of female perfection expected and idealised in Western society.’
Bibliographic reference
Libido Uprising: Mother/Daughter Work, a Collaboration between Jo Spence and Rosy Martin (plus David Roberte), 1987 and 1989, Tate exhibition catalogue, p9
Collection
Accession number
E.399-2010

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Record createdApril 8, 2010
Record URL
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