GRAIN Projects is delighted to be working with artist and photographer Ayesha Jones on ‘The Backbone’, where she turns the camera on herself as she develops new work that explores emotion, the body and the condition Idiopathic Scoliosis. As part of the project Jones is working with her own archive, made when she had surgical treatment in her 20s, in collaboration with other women with the condition and with medics who specialize in this field. Throughout the project Jones will reflect on her own experience of the condition as well as collaborating with others. Jones developed scoliosis at puberty and began surgical treatment in her 20s when her spine had progressed to a 100 degree curvature. The work she made at that time explored the experience of adolescence and the visibility of the curvature, the impact it had on relationships, lifestyle and self-esteem.

She is now revisiting this work as well as making new work for a publication, to be designed by Chris Neophytou. The project and publication is supported by GRAIN Projects and Arts Council England.

Ayesha Jones (b. 1990) is an emerging artist based in the West Midlands. She works predominantly with photography and film and is interested in art as a catalyst for growth, healing and social impact. Jones’ work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and she has won awards, including Magnum Photos and The Photography Show’s 30 under 30 international award, Portrait of Britain (2022 and 2023) and Decade of Change.

Jones’ ’solo exhibition Motherland was exhibited as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021. In this new work she used her family lineage as a mixed heritage person, to highlight the interconnected nature of identity, humanity, nature and all things.

Ayesha has recently worked on a commission with Ikon Gallery and Birmingham Hospice, exploring themes around ageing and end of life. Her work Leave A Light In My Room was exhibited at Ikon Gallery in August 2023.

Jones is currently working with Multistory and the Gaia Foundation for the national We Feed
the UK project which documents the UK’s regenerative farmers.