The Backbone by Ayesha Jones is a photographic series exploring idiopathic scoliosis as a lens through which to examine female health more broadly. This intimate work brings together personal narratives and collective stories, illuminating experiences that have historically been overlooked or marginalised within medical discourse.

Through evocative imagery and intimate reflections, Jones intertwines her own experience of idiopathic scoliosis with the voices and stories of other women living with the condition. The condition becomes both a personal and political entry point through which the artist challenges misconceptions surrounding female bodies, visibility and care.

Combining documentary photography, self-portraiture, archive material and collaborative storytelling, the work highlights the emotional, psychological and social realities that often exist beyond medical imaging and diagnosis, particularly for women whose pain and experiences continue to be misunderstood, misdiagnosed and dismissed.

The Backbone invites viewers into wider conversations around health, research and the systems through which medical knowledge is produced, questioning the historical data gaps that continue to shape how female bodies are understood and treated. Through personal testimony and artistic research, the project advocates for greater visibility, representation and equity within healthcare.

Based in the West Midlands, Ayesha Jones works predominantly with photography and film and is interested in art as a catalyst for growth, healing and social impact. This first solo presentation of The Backbone at Street Level Photoworks is presented in association with GRAIN Projects and the Royal Photographic Society.

Exhibition texts combine participant testimonies, personal reflections and research developed by Ayesha Jones into women’s health and medical history. Research references include:

• Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men — Caroline Criado Perez, 2019
• Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World — Elinor Cleghorn, 2021
• The Female Body Bible: A Revolution in Women’s Health and Fitness — Dr Emma Ross, Baz Moffat and Dr Bella Smith, 2023
• Period Power — Maisie Hill, 2019

The Backbone photobook is available (limited supply) and includes newly commissioned writing by Pelumi Odubanjo, Natalie Mann, and Roma Bansil. Published by GRAIN Projects, and designed by Chris Neophytou, Out of Place Books, and supported by Arts Council England and GRAIN Projects.

The exhibition launched as part of Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art (5^th – 21^st June 2026). The exhibition will run until the 30^th August 2026.

Exhibition Panel Discussion

Saturday 15^th August at 2pm – with Aqsa Arif, Ayesha Jones, and moderated by Arpita Shah.

Exhibition Page

Read more about the exhibition on Street Level Photoworks.

Visitor Information

The exhibition at Street Level Photoworks is free to enter and open Tuesday to Sunday, 12-5pm 9 . There is step-free access to Street Level Photoworks and an accessible toilet on ground level of Trongate 103.

About Street Level Photoworks
Street Level Photoworks is a leading photography arts organisation that provides artists and the public with a range of opportunities to make and engage with photography. We are a gallery and an open access photographic production facility, committed to quality and equality across all our activity. We provide a high-quality artistic programme in the city of Glasgow that is challenging and accessible, local and international, diverse and highly individual. We are based within Trongate 103, Glasgow’s centre for creativity and we are a member of Scotland’s Workshops network. We run the Photography Networks in Scotland platform.

The exhibition launched as part of Glasgow International Festival of Contemporary Art (5^th – 21^st June 2026). The exhibition will run until the 30^th August.

Saturday, Aug 15, 2026, 2 pm
Panel Discussion (en)
With Aqsa Arif, Ayesha Jones, and moderated by Arpita Shah.