'Foreign Bodies'

Jo Stapleton

The series ‘Foreign Bodies’ began life as an experiment to explore the quality and potential of photograms using the Lith printing process. Inspired by Cornelia Parker’s Polymer Gravure etchings, I visited local charity shops in search of domestic glass objects to transform into printed artefacts. The Lith process produced a glow or visual echo around the edges and details within the glass. This prompted me to think of the objects as floating in fluid, biological and cellular in nature. Using a set of histology transparencies from an old medical textbook, I projected macro images of human cells and tissues on to the photographic paper, arranging and creating a relationship between the objects and projections. My aim was to explore the photogram objects as ‘foreign bodies’ within the human body and the beauty, otherness and alien nature of our micro biology. By the stop-start rotation of glass pieces during the exposure process, I sought to create a sense of movement and to suggest the breakdown or absorption of objects by the body.

Artist biography

I am a Hertfordshire (UK) based alternative process film and darkroom photographer. My photographic practice focuses upon constructed realities using models, found objects and photo collage to construct and capture photographic moments or stories. Print making and alternative processes are integral components of my creative practice and image construction. As an active member of London Independent Photography Network and Shutterhub, I have participated in UK and international exhibitions. I am an RPS 100 Photographic Heroines nominee and 2020 analogue photography grant recipient of the Richard and Siobhan Coward Photography Foundation.

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'Foreign Bodies'
Jo Stapleton

©Jo Stapleton, 'smashed bells and liver cells' ( 2021) Photogram of smashed decorative glass bells placed directly on to photographic paper and exposed with histology transparency of liver cells, projected using an enlarger. Stop/start exposure process used to reposition pieces of glass and bell clappers to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'two perfume atomisers and sea salt with embryonic mucous connecting tissue’ (2022) Photogram of two perfume atomisers and sea salt, placed on to photographic paper and exposed with histology transparency of embryonic mucous connecting tissue, projected using an enlarger. Stop/start exposure used to reposition atomiser tassels to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'decanter and broken glass pieces with motor neurone’ (2022) Photogram of a decorative glass decanter with pieces of broken glass placed on to photographic paper with histology transparency of a motor neurone, projected using an enlarger. Stop/start exposure used to reposition broken glass pieces to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'dissolving pyrex cups in gut tissue’ (2022) Photogram of five pyrex cups placed as a stack on to photographic paper and exposed with histology transparency of loose gut tissue, projected using an enlarger. Multiple stop/start exposures used to reposition and separate cups to suggest movement and decomposition within the body. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, ‘smashed decanter with loose connecting tissue’ (2021) Photogram of a decorative glass decanter smashed with a hammer, pieces arranged on photographic paper, exposed with a histology transparency of loose connecting tissue, projected using an enlarger. Stop/start exposure used to reposition smaller pieces of glass to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, ’dressing table tray and sea salt with motor neurone’ (2021) Photogram of a decorative glass dressing table tray and sea salt placed directly on to photographic paper and exposed with histology transparency of a motor neurone, projected using an enlarger. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, ‘moving bell with gut tissue’ (2021) Photogram of a decorative glass bell exposed with histology transparency of gut tissue, projected using an enlarger. Multiple stop/start exposure used to reposition the bell to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process in ‘old brown’ (exhausted) Lith developer.

©Jo Stapleton, 'bulb from a theatre lantern with motor neurone' (2021) Photogram of a giant theatre lantern bulb, exposed with a histology transparency of a motor neurone, using an enlarger. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'perfume atomiser and glass marbles with embryonic mucous connecting tissue' (2022) Photogram of a perfume atomiser and glass marbles placed on photographic paper and exposed with projected histology transparency of embryonic mucous connecting tissue, using an enlarger. Glass marbles an atomiser tassels repositioned during stop/start exposure process to suggest movement. Image developed using Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'glass ashtrays with gut tissue' (2022) Photogram of glass ashtrays exposed with histology transparency of gut tissue, projected using an enlarger. Ashtrays repositioned using stop/start exposure to suggest movement and decomposition within the body. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'metal lampshade with crystal droplets and connecting tissue' (2021) Photogram of a metal lampshade with crystal droplets, exposed with histology transparency of connecting tissue, using an enlarger. Crystal droplets from the lampshade repositioned using a stop/start exposure process to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'smashed sweetie dish with liver cells’ (2022) Photogram of a decorative sweetie dish smashed with a hammer, exposed with histology transparency of liver cells, projected using an enlarger. Multiple stop/start exposures used to reposition segments of the broken glass to suggest movement and decomposition within the body. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'decanter and glass marbles with embryonic connecting tissue’ (2022) Photogram of a cut glass decanter with glass marbles placed on to photographic paper with histology transparency of embryonic connecting tissue, projected using an enlarger. Marbles rolled during the exposure process to create movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'dissolving decanter with loose connecting tissue' (2021) Photogram of a smashed cut glass decanter, exposed with histology transparency of loose connecting tissue, projected using an enlarger. Stop/start exposure process used to position pieces of broken glass to suggest movement and decomposition within the body. Image developed using Lith printing process.

©Jo Stapleton, 'glass in motion with elastic ear cartilage' (2021) Photogram of three glasses in process of decomposition exposed with histology transparency of elastic ear cartilage, using an enlarger. Middle glass rolled during exposure to suggest movement. Image developed using the Lith printing process.

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