Helen Chadwick In-depth analysis

Helen Chadwick

This piece of work is in titled 'self portrait' by Helen Chadwick 1991.
This piece of work was made to show that no matter what age, race or gender, the human brain looks the same in all of us. Although this is obviously not Helen Chadwick's brain, in this photograph she is represented by her hands. The work also comments of the change in scientific knowledge also the change in culture and attitudes towards the human body as well as the mind. The Creases and folds in the fabric around the brain have been said to be a reference to portraits of the 17th century where cloth was used as a symbol of civilisation. She had also imitated this in the surface of the brain. The cloth has a surface that would normally be used to hold or display something of great value, showing the brain as very important to the photograph. 
This is a very controversial and contemporary photograph as it is far from the traditional self portrait, this was displayed behind Perspex.
This photograph connects with the audience making them wonder and ask questions such as;
-How was the brain removed from the body?
-Why was it removed?
and
-Why did the artist choose to do this? 
This is the caption of the photograph at the National galleries Scotland:
'Self-Portrait' is from the 'Meat Lamps' series of works. A photographic transparency is mounted on a glass plate and lit from behind by an electric light. The piece is simultaneously fascinating and repulsive. Cradled carefully in the artist's hands, the shapes of the brain are echoed by the folds of material. The work is a kind of collective self-portrait. Regardless of gender, age or race, everybody's brain looks the same. When we look at the work, our brain is effectively looking at itself, a potentially unsettling experience given that the brain is at the core of our identity.

About Helen Chadwick:
Born: 18th May 1953
Died: 15th March 1996 (aged 42)
Studied at: Croydon college of art, Brighton Polytechnic and Chelsea school of art and design 
Lived: Born in London, Hackney, Beck road
Nominated twice for the Turner prize, part of the Feminist movement. 
Quote from Helen Chadwick 'Right from early art school, I wanted to use the body to create a sense of inner relationships with the audience' 

This photograph is a photograph of a brain with someones hands around it, it isn't a close up but it is the only thing you can see in the frame. This shows that it is an important part of the photograph but her hands in the image are key to the title 'self portrait'.
I like this image because it is controversial and makes you question the photograph a lot. It links to my ideas as it is part of the human bod, I would like to use this work as inspiration for one of my initial ideas.