Jo Morrison
Jo Morrison
Jo Morrison, Wise As Serpents; Mary, Eve & Sophia with 331 Prayers, 2024/25, child’s Inflatable paddling pool, garden hose, re-used plastic candle prayers, electric massager (found and given to me by fellow tomie Martin Osman). Photography by Tessa Hallmann.
Installation piece inspired by spiritual/religious iconography. This work wants to merge body and spirit. It looks for non-dualism among key biblical female characters to create full personalities and it remembers and celebrates under-used imagery & language (within Western Christianity) of the feminine divine - Sophia (Wisdom). It places an embracing and protective serpent symbol within goddess territory and away from the concept of Original sin.
Biography
Jo Morrison is a free-improvising vocalist, performer & assemblage artist currently based in Essex. With (relatively recent) roots in the improvised music scene, DIY sound exploration & performing culture, her art practice is usually kinetic with elements of sound, humour & film. There is an interest in strange shapes within the ordinary, costume & mask-making, mystery, value systems & the liberation of objects from their usual function. Present work is looking at western goddess symbolism, christian imagery, language & concepts, and feminist practical theology. She is exploring ways of merging body and spirit. This seeks to respond to her exposure to & participation in, a variety of spiritual expressions & faith traditions.