Jo Spence
Photo therapy: Greedy (sequence of four works), 1989
Vintage C-type prints
15 x 40 cms
5 14/16 x 15 11/16 ins
Series: 5. Photo Therapy Collaborations (1984-90)
12337
Provenance
The Jo Spence Memorial ArchiveRichard Saltoun Gallery, London
Exhibitions
Jo Spence : from Fairy Tales to Phototherapy. Photographs from the Hyman Collection, Arnolfini Bristol, (18th May 2020 - 20th June 2021) (this print)Jo Spence: A Woman’s Place? at Belfast Exposed in Collaboration with the Centre for British Photography. 7th October 2024 – 21st December 2024
Literature
Jo Spence Cultural Sniping p.206 (illustrated)
Jo Spence in collaboration with Dr Tim Sheard. Set of four photographs mounted in pairs by the artist on graph paper. 'Greedy' from 1989 is a work which developed as...
Jo Spence in collaboration with Dr Tim Sheard.
Set of four photographs mounted in pairs by the artist on graph paper.
'Greedy' from 1989 is a work which developed as part of Spence's earlier work 'Emotional Overeating.' We see Jo naked, with the word 'greedy' written across her stomach in black marker. In her hands she holds different chocolate bars: Toblerone, Bounty, and what appear to be bags of crisps. The work is a rebellion against parental and societal disapproval of overeating and of eating what is considered to be bad food.
The facial expression of Jo is one of sadness, almost forlorn, as she looks down at the treats she holds in her hands, knowing that she shouldn't eat them but wanting them, nonetheless. Spence's true accomplishment is her ability to depict herself unashamedly and without fear, in ways that are not traditionally attractive. Spence's body was at odds with the Western manufactured ideal of beauty: the scar from her lumpectomy in this image is visible, next to the Bounty bars, strategically placed, and one is fully aware that she is slightly overweight from the visible rolls of fat on her stomach. Spence presents herself as the antithesis to standard beauty ideals, showing she is imperfect, from her messy hair to her scarred breasts.
Set of four photographs mounted in pairs by the artist on graph paper.
'Greedy' from 1989 is a work which developed as part of Spence's earlier work 'Emotional Overeating.' We see Jo naked, with the word 'greedy' written across her stomach in black marker. In her hands she holds different chocolate bars: Toblerone, Bounty, and what appear to be bags of crisps. The work is a rebellion against parental and societal disapproval of overeating and of eating what is considered to be bad food.
The facial expression of Jo is one of sadness, almost forlorn, as she looks down at the treats she holds in her hands, knowing that she shouldn't eat them but wanting them, nonetheless. Spence's true accomplishment is her ability to depict herself unashamedly and without fear, in ways that are not traditionally attractive. Spence's body was at odds with the Western manufactured ideal of beauty: the scar from her lumpectomy in this image is visible, next to the Bounty bars, strategically placed, and one is fully aware that she is slightly overweight from the visible rolls of fat on her stomach. Spence presents herself as the antithesis to standard beauty ideals, showing she is imperfect, from her messy hair to her scarred breasts.