ABOUT
In 1996, at the age of 32, Jojo made the transition from Theatre director/teacher to photographer. He won the social category of the 1998 Fuji Student Awards and went on to spend the next 25 years producing portraits, primarily, but not exclusively, naked anthropological/ documentary ones in the style of Diane Arbus.
During this time he also worked as the Plymouth Herald’s first pictorial columnist, was a presenter/ broadcaster on terrestrial television, wrote, directed and produced theatre and performance art pieces.
Since 1997 he has had four photographic books published and 14 exhibitions.
“Growing up I was ostracised by my peers, a situation that, though painful at the time, proved beneficial to my artwork in the long term: I took pleasure from paying attention to people in a way that only an outsider can: seeing what is often hidden.
With the advent of the pandemic-lockdown I had time to evaluate my working methods, to research other art forms and practitioners and to experiment in my studio. I know this was a difficult time for many but I flourished. I refined my approaches to the technical aspects of the craft and because of social distancing, I embarked on the creation of a substantial body of self-portraiture.
I am now producing work within constructed environments, bringing in more performance and narrative, often with a surrealist undercurrent, to my imagery. Finally, my enthusiasm for naked portraiture has metamorphosed into more of a study of form, texture and tone, creating images that have a sense of other-worldliness.”
Now in his late 50’s Jojo feels a new sense of vitality in his work, he feels he has undergone another transition, this time, from photographer, to visual artist.
TABLE 32 (solo show)
Boston Tea Party Plymouth
2019/20
YOU PLUS ME EQUALS US: (Solo show)
Ocean Studios Royal William Yard Plymouth 2017
MY ARCHIPELAGO (Solo show)
New Street Gallery Plymouth 2017
limited edition of 500 copies self-published 2017
limited edition of 1000 copies self-published 2010
DOMESTIC PLEASURES (Joint show)
Plymouth University commission 2009
TRIPPLE EXPOSURE (Joint show)
Somerville Gallery Plymouth 2009
MONO/STEREO
limited edition of 300 copies self-published 2003
OPEN STUDIOS (Solo show)
Held at my studio Plymouth 2002
STOLEN MOMENTS (Solo show)
Art Garden Café Plymouth 2002
PLYMOUTH UNVEILED (Solo show)
Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery 2001
PLYMOUTH UNVEILED (the book)
edition of 10,000 copies published by DB PUBLISHING 2000
YESTERDAY'S NUDES (Solo show)
Unique Studio Gallery Plymouth 2000
OPEN STUDIOS (Solo show)
Held at my studio Plymouth 2000
NAKED BODIES (Solo show)
Arts Initiative Gallery Plymouth 2000
STRANGERS TO THE SPOTLIGHT
Everyman Theatre Liverpool 1997
My work has also appeared in
the following publications:
Western Morning News
Coast Magazine
The Sun
Devon Today
Health and Efficiency
Electronic Telegraph
Daily Post Liverpool
Plymouth Independent
Plymouth Herald
Metro London
The Mirror
BBC