Warburg Institute & Wellcome Collection Visit

Warburg Institute Visit

On Tuesday (15th Oct), we went on a field trip to the Warburg Institute and Wellcome Collection.

It was an eye-opening field trip as we got to view a library collection that was only open to post-graduate students. We were first introduced to the photo catalogue that they have in the building. Sadly, I did not manage to take any photos as I was listening to the librarian explaining the history of the Warburg Institute.

He talked about the founder, Aby Warburg, who was crazy about collecting books about magic, science, philosophy, mythical gods, basically any subject that we would not have imagined. He explained to us that Warburg was so obsessed with collecting books to the point he created his own research library which was funded by his family.

What intrigued me the most during that introduction session about the Warburg Institute was how the collections were catalogued. They were not catalogued according to alphabetical order but according to the different categories/subjects that Aby Warburg has specifically made; such as Magic, Science, Portraits, etc. He has over 400, 000 photographs of these types of subjects all catalogued in a way that would make the reader find things on the shelves that they have never discovered before.

I personally thought this was a very clever way of cataloguing a collection. Warburg did not just think of how he wanted his collection to look like but also has unintentionally created a user experience for the collection.

After we got a tour of the photo collection, we were brought to the library. Similar to how it was catalogued, the books are not catalogued to alphabetical order but to the different topics.

We were shown some books that were very old and I was kind of excited to see it as I have never seen such old books.


Books that were introduced to us at Warburg Library

These were the books that the librarian showed us.

 
 
Illustrations of clowns

 
Figure 1. Illustrations of people's foreheads


I don't exactly remember the title of these books but from what I can recall, these books were mainly for artists to use as a reference. One of the books that showed the images of people's foreheads lines (see Figure 1) was quite humorous as there were descriptions below each illustration of what their futures are based on their forehead lines. I thought it was quite amusing for people back then to have thought of this.

My visit to the Warburg Institute had me become more interested in weird mythical topics like this. I never knew a library like this existed. It is a huge source of inspiration.

Wellcome Collection

After our visit to the Warburg Institute, we headed to the Wellcome Collection where we visited 2 exhibits called "Being Human" and "Misbehaving Bodies" by Jo Spence and Oreet Ashery.

We were tasked to choose 4 project statements from the visit that interests us and write our observation and analysis based on these 4 projects.

1st Project Statement


Visual Autobiography - An Act of Bravery? (Spence, 1986)

Description:
This project statement talks about how this is part of a continuing project under the BEYOND THE FAMILY ALBUM exhibit. This photo archive focuses on Jo Spence's family and how she wanted to portray what families go through. I chose this project because it was very thought-provoking. It was also an interesting topic that I think not a lot of people touch on because we always try to paint this picture-perfect image of how a family is like. She touches on subjects such as divorce and unemployment.


Image by author

Research:
"Emphasis has always been on 'documentary' photography (adding pictures to text, or using text with pictures to explain them), or the use of snapshots for recounting the past." (Spence, 1986) The medium that Jo Spence used which was documentary photography was one of the reasons I chose this project statement. It's such a raw way of photographing her family archive.

Analysis:
Based on the reference that I stated above, I think part of the reason why I like this project was the element of design in this exhibit. Her use of 'documentary' photography - texts and images, plays a part in my future direction of practice which is graphic design. Spence used basic design principles like colour to emphasise on certain boards of this installation. Photo collages on the green boards at the side and the blue board with Spence's breasts on it adds shock value. The use of images and text is very crucial tools in graphic design.

Reflection:
I personally am not the type to read as much but for some reason, when I visited this part of the exhibition, I was intrigued. How Spence portrayed topics like divorce and unemployment through photography and text was amazed me because these are sensitive topics that are kind of hard to portray in a visual sense because there is so much emotional value behind it that only one who goes through can understand. But for some reason, after reading the texts and looking at the photographs, I felt kind of sad.

2nd Project Statement

A Picture of Health: Property of Jo Spence? (Spence, 1982)

Description:
A Picture of Health focuses on Jo Spence's journey through her battle with breast cancer. She documents her feelings when she was first diagnosed until her last breath. This particular piece is a photograph of where her tumour was located in her breast. At first glance, it may seem provocative because it is literally an image of Spence half-naked. Through this photograph, she wanted to relive the moment the first time the doctor diagnosed her with cancer. I chose this as one of my favourite pieces is because of the simplicity of the photograph. After you read the description of this photograph, you gain a whole new perspective and it kind of gives this eerie feeling.


Image by author

Research:
"As he referred to his notes, without introduction, he bent over me and began to ink a cross onto the area above my left breast. As he did so a whole chaotic series of images flashed through my head." (Spence, 1982). This quote from Jo Spence's experience of her diagnosis really stuck with me as it helped me visualise what she was actually going through in that room and how she felt. Your life flashing through your eyes as you realise this one mark on your left breast has shifted your life entirely. That thought flashed through my mind and it was kind of scary just thinking about it.

Analysis:
The photograph is so simple yet it evokes so much emotion just by that simple writing on Spence's breast, it makes me realise that simplicity is key in design which is the pathway that I want eventually. "Less is more", and I think this image sums it up.

Reflection:
The main reason what got me interested in this work was that it resonated with me. 10 years ago my grandmother passed away from breast cancer. I did see how she had to cope with the illness in her by having to change her diet completely and eating medicine every single day. It was painful to her having to go through that. However, this particular work showed me a new perspective of what cancer does to a person and what they are going through mentally. Not many people document their journey going through cancer because it is already painful having it, but still, Jo Spence documented herself when she got diagnosed and I think that is admirable, capturing a horrifying moment of your life because she wants to deny the fact that it is happening to her.

3rd Project Statement


Photo Therapy (Spence and Martin, 1985)

Description: This photo project is a joined collaboration between Jo Spence and Rosy Martin. There are two main parts to this work - Spence dealing with her own attitudes to and perceptions of the orthodox medical profession, and secondly her relationship and memories of her dead parents. (Spence, 1985). Similarly to the first project that I selected, I chose this project because of how she used photography as a way of therapy towards herself. Many people have different ways of finding solace, but for Spence it was photography, and I think that is very unique to finding peace.


Image by author

Research:
In the project statement, Spence talks about how she was trying to cope with her depression and anxiety levels. "Co-counselling opened up for me ways of using old photos of myself and my family when I was a child. I was amazed to discover an entirely 'new' history of my childhood through the use of exiting (but absolutely typical) family photos." (Spence, 1985).

I think this amazes me because people would always want to forget their past, especially if there are things they would never want to remember. However, when Spence was going through-co-counselling, she realised that these photographs of her family helped her discover things that she never thought she would and it healed in a way. The sentiment behind this project was what I like about it.

Analysis:
I think more than just aesthetics and just the physicality of creating good design, it is bringing joy and happiness to the people around me. Like how Spence used photography as a form of therapy, I want to make work that touches the hearts of people. Designs that not only have a purpose but also an emotional aspect behind it. I want people to feel rather than just look at it as an 'aesthetic' piece.

Reflection:
I think what's admirable about this project was that Spence was willing to embrace her past use it as a form of therapy. More than just photographing a journey through cancer and also battling depression and anxiety, she did not see it as an illness that would cripple her but a form of art that could be used to give a fresh new perspective for the people around her.

4th Project Statement



The Picture of Health? (Spence, Dennett, Murry, 1982-86)

Description:
This project is made over a four-year period. It documents Jo Spence's healthcare regime, battling breast cancer. However, rather than looking at herself as a victim, she questions the image of a healthy person by combining text and media. (Spence, 1982-86). The reason why I chose this project was that I have a loved one who is at this point battling cancer. My grandfather has Stage 4 cancer, but the funny thing is that he is doing perfectly fine. Physically he doesn't look like a cancer patient and I think this project kind of reflects that. Jo Spence was going through cancer too but in this project, she doesn't belittle herself in the state that she is in but instead using photography and media to ask a question.


The Picture of Health - project statement by Jo Spence 

Research:
In her statement, she says, "I have visually mapped out my life so that I could begin to tackle what needed to be done rather than living in fantasyland as I used to." I think this is of great importance that she knows that she has cancer but does not let it affect her thinking. She used photography to help cope and document her new lifestyle.




Images by author

Analysis:
I think brings back to how our everyday life is also a form of art and that could be translated into graphic design. Like photography, video, animation, etc. this project reminds me that life experiences hold a strong connection for humans and I want to bring that connection to my future pathway.

Reflection:
What got me interested me was the way Jo Spence's reaction to her cancer reflected my grandfather. It holds huge sentimental value because he doesn't let cancer hold him back. He still goes to work day after day even though he knows he is ill and I think both Jo Spence and my grandfather hold that same characteristic of making something that is horrifying into a life-changing

Maps of my interests, things I like, future directions, what I have learnt so far


Mind map

Bibliography

Spence, J. (1982) A Picture of Health: Property of Jo Spence? [Photograph]. London (Viewed: 15th October 2019)

Spence, J., Dennett, T., Murray, M. (1982-86) The Picture of Health [Installation]. London (Viewed: 15th October 2019)

Spence, J. and Martin, R. (1985) Photo Therapy [Installation]. London (Viewed: 15th October 2019)

Spence, J. (1986) Visual Autobiography - An Act of Bravery? [Installation]. London (Viewed: 15th October 2019)