Responding to the latest exhibition at the Andy Warhol Museum in New York City, artist Jordan Eagles has used blood donated from 59 members of the LGBTQ+ community to create light illustrations on artwork within the museum galleries.
The installation is aimed at drawing attention to the discriminatory blood ban against gay men that continues to affect many countries around the world.
He is also keen to try to create a conversation around the stigma surrounding HIV positive people and the value of human life.
Most of the blood donations were from men who are on PrEP medication to prevent HIV infection.
Eagles is a New York-based artist who has been exploring the aesthetics and ethics of blood as an artistic medium since the late 1990s.
One of the pieces Eagles projects blood onto is “Vinci”, which features an appropriated image of the painting Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, depicting Jesus Christ as “Savior of the World” which sold for $450,300,000 USD at Christie’s New York in 2017, making it the most expensive artwork in history.
“In Vinci, the image has been layered with preserved blood from an HIV+ undetectable*, long-term survivor and activist, and questions whether Jesus would have wanted $450 million spent on a painting of his likeness, or dedicated to scientific and medical advancements that could help save lives and alleviate suffering,” Eagles said on his Instagram.
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The Allies for Health + Wellbeing will be providing information and services for individuals living with, or at risk of HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections at the installation.
Last Updated on Dec 2, 2019
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