The Backbone by Ayesha Jones is a new photobook launched in May 2025. In this intimate and activating imagery the artist, through her photographic practice, explores idiopathic scoliosis as a lens to address broader female health. This project brings together personal narratives and collective experiences, illuminating the experiences of females who have been historically marginalised in medical discourse, and includes newly commissioned writing.
Through a series of evocative photographs and intimate reflections, Jones shares her journey with severe scoliosis, using the condition as a vehicle to challenge misconceptions and advocate for the urgent need for comprehensive understanding of female health. The book highlights the often-overlooked narratives surrounding female experiences, emphasising the importance of visibility, representation, and research in transforming healthcare and societal perceptions.
The Backbone invites readers to engage in critical conversations about identity, health, and the power of storytelling, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of the female body in a groundbreaking new body of work and call to action for equitable healthcare.
The Backbone is published by GRAIN Projects. Designed by Chris Neophytou, Out of Place Books. Supported by Arts Council England and GRAIN Projects.
