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Property of Jo Spence?
- Spence, Jo
- Date
- [1982]
- Reference
- 3049393i
- Part of
- A picture of health?
- Pictures
- Online
Available online
Selected images from this work
About this work
Description
Half-length self-portrait of Jo Spence, naked, with a dressing and 'Property of Jo Spence?' written in black marker on her left breast.
Publication/Creation
[1982]
Physical description
1 photograph : black and white print ; sheet 40.4 x 30.4 cm
Series
Biographical note
Jo Spence (1934 - 1992) started as a commercial photographer, from the 1970s she moved to critical documentary photography. In 1974 she met her long-term collaborator, Terry Dennett, with whom she established the Photography Workshop Ltd. Her work was both politically aware and personal, considering social issues, sexuality, power and health. She worked collaboratively throughout her career, in the 1970s and early 80s with the Hackney Flashers and Polysnappers, and in 1984, she developed Photo-therapy with Rosy Martin. Diagnosed with cancer in 1982 much of her subsequent work reflected her experiences, including the A picture of health? series (1982-86). In 1990 she was diagnosed with leukemia, and The final project work was a response to this. She wrote extensively, and in 1984 published Putting myself in the picture.
Reference
Jo Spence. 1982. Property of Jo Spence? [Photograph]. Wellcome Collection: Library no. 3049393i
References note
Reproduced in Spence, J. (1988). Putting myself in the picture, page 157.
Spence, J. (2005). Jo Spence: beyond the perfect image. photography, subjectivity, antagonism. Barcelona: Museu dArt Contemporani de Barcelona, page 270.
Creator/production credits
Created in collaboration with Terry Dennett.
Exhibitions note
Exhibited in "Misbehaving Bodies", Wellcome Collection, 30 May 2019 - 26 January 2020
Notes
Title taken from text in photograph.
The image was included in 'A picture of health?' project (1982-86).
Former Richard Saltoun stock codes: JOS1314 & JOS088.
Ownership note
Purchased by Wellcome Collection in 2016 from the Estate of Jo Spence.
Type/Technique
Languages
- English
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed storesNote