‘A Diagnosis of Exclusion’ & ‘Unpredictable Patterns’
Juliet Chenery-Robson – Interpretation Text
In an introduction from her book, ‘Unpredictable Patterns’, Juliet quotes: When my daughter, Emilia, became ill with M.E. five years ago I found myself cast as a traveler between two worlds, worlds that are eloquently described by Susan Sontag in her book Illness as Metaphor:
‘llness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.[1]’Juliet Chenery-Robson’s work investigates the aura of scepticism surrounding the illness ME/CFS. Often referred to as the disease of a thousand names ME affects over 250,000 people in the UK and many thousands more worldwide. However, despite this fact, ME remains misunderstood by many health professionals, with many still believing it is “all in the mind”. So through her detailed research, investigation and photographic works Chenery-Robson hopes to help make this devastating illness visible to an often disbelieving audience.
‘A Diagnosis of Exclusion’ displays a series of powerful photographic works, conveying the alienation, social exclusion and loss of identity prevalent in the shadow of this disease.
Chenery-Robson invites the viewer to test their own notion and understanding of ME through this series of hospital images and portraits. Trapped in the ‘kingdom of the sick’ the sufferer seeks comfort and reassurance in their attempt to cope with this illness’ often severe and disabling symptoms. The individuals in the portraits look out at the viewer, seemingly in an attempt to challenge your concept of ME, willing you to understand and recognise the reality of this frequently life destroying illness.
The images of ‘Unpredictable Patterns’ focus upon symbolic details and reflect that lives have become ‘stilled’ and removed from the public sphere and confined to the private by their illness. A solitary glass of water, seen in front of flocked wallpaper, appears like a Morandi still life in which all is timeless, calm, as if outside of history. In another image, a collection of butterflies, encased in their individual boxes, provides a correlative for the collection of individuals represented here, each involuntarily entombed in their own rooms. Chenery-Robson intends our impressions to be contradictory, to be as lodged with problems as the medical profession’s is when dealing with her subjects. The compound idea transmitted is of lives continuing whilst suspended, spent in quiet incarceration.Chenery-Robson, an MA graduate, has recently exhibited work at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Durham Art Gallery and Newcastle University Medical Sciences facility. As a practicing visual artist, her research and photographic work relating to ME is still ongoing via an AHRC funded PhD at the University of Sunderland.
In Newcastle University News Release they report , ‘While looking for more subjects for her exhibition, Juliet was put in touch with Professor Julia Newton, a Clinical Professor at Newcastle University’s Institute of Ageing and Health, who is also a patron of charity ME North East….
Professor Newton’s team leads the way for chronic fatigue research in the UK and is one of the few places in the country focussing on the biological indicators behind illnesses such as ME…. Medical research helped Juliet ground her project and widen her knowledge of the illness. She visited hospitals, talked with medical researchers such as Professor Newton and photographed some of the research equipment such as the tilt tables at Newcastle University and the MRI scanner at Newcastle General. These images were added to the exhibition, along with more abstract images such as vintage blood samples and butterflies in cases’. Sunderland University Press Office quote Juliet’s present plans, “I now plan to take the research I’ve done even further with a PhD, funded by the AHRC, developing a more in-depth look at ME. I’m hoping to reach a wider audience beyond the North East, representing the unrepresentable through my art. I’ll be focusing on current research and new case studies alongside people that I interviewed in the last project.’’
After seeing her work online a newly-formed charitable foundation called 'Life with Art' decided to include her work in a series of exhibitions in 16 vacant offices to help raise awareness, and much-needed funds, for ME charities around the country such as ME North East and ME Research UK. For each opening at every venue ‘Life with Art’ will give a grant to the nominated charity. There is an open evening in Newcastle in June before touring the country. Open Evenings for the Exhibitions ‘Unpredictable Patterns’ & ‘A Diagnosis of Exclusion’ by Juliet Chenery-Robson are supported by Life with Art & ME North East. Entry is free and all are welcome. The exhibitions will be on display for a month in each venue and can be viewed by appointment with ME North East (see below). Art workshops will also take place in Newcastle. To register interest in attending the open evenings, arranging group visits or for more information about ME North East, contact Jennifer Elliott (Chief Executive of MENE) email: menortheast1@yahoo.co.uk or Tel: 0191 389 2222.
This exhibition and body of work has been helped and supported by:
ME North East
Life with Art
University of Sunderland
The Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Arts Council England
University of Newcastle
For further info visit: www.axisweb.org/artist/julietcheneryrobson or to see more photos and exhibitions visit her facebook page 'A Diagnosis of Exclusion' Juliet Chenery-Robson.
