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Mundo Positive

David Wojnarowicz / Helen Chadwick

Inserted into magazines and records
01 January 1992 - 31 January 1992

Mundo Positive was a series of artworks by artists raising awareness about AIDS and HIV. Rather than using typical forms of communicating information through public health advertisements, Mundo Positive used unexpected visual images to heighten AIDS awareness. These specially commissioned full colour images were distributed as inserts in major record releases and publications in January of that year.

Helen Chadwick's contribution carried information about recent research on a connection between daisies and HIV. Work at Kew Gardens had shown some tropical plants contain chemicals which are able to prevent the production of HIV by infected cells. Microbiologists Eileen Leis and Steve Dealler at the Bradford Royal infirmary discovered that the common daisy, which is more easily available has leaves which also works against the virus. Schoolchildren in Bradford picked 30 bin liners of leaves so that the research could continue.

Another work, called Something from Sleep by David Wojnarowicz; an artist diagnosed with AIDS who challenged prejudice and indifference through his work and sadly passsed away in June 1992 of AIDS-related complications. In addition to the CD inserts, Artangel also sold limited edition prints of the artworks with all proceeds going to the Terence Higgins Trust — a British charity that campaigns on issues related to AIDS and HIV.

Artwork: Helen Chadwick

About the artists

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Helen Chadwick

Helen Chadwick was a British conceptual artist who explored the role of women in society, sexuality, feminisim and the body. In addition to her practice, she lectured at Royal College of Art, Chelsea School of Art (where she also studied) and the London Institute. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at London's Serpentine Gallery and the ICA. She was short-listed for the Turner Prize in 1987 and was also awarded the Bill Brandt Award and an Arts Council Film Distribution Award. She passed away in 1996 at the age of 42.

David Wojnarowicz

David Wojnarowicz was an artist who used his writing, performance, painting, photography and collage to speak out for the socially, sexually and economically outcast. After training briefly in Performing Arts he begain making super-8 films in the late 70s and became promienent on the New York arts scene in the 1980s also exhibiting at the Whitney Biennial and the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris. He passed away from AIDS-related complications shortly after having completed this project with Artangel and has since had solo exhibitions at New York's New Museum and Wolfgang Tillmans' exhibition space Between Bridges in London as well as having his work shown internationally in group exhibitions.

Artist David Wojnarowicz holding his insert 'Something from Sleep II' next to the Closet Classics record in which it was found.

Image: (left) Something from Sleep II by David Wojnarowicz,1992; (right) Portrait of the artist David Wojnarowicz,1992. Photograph: John Carson

Credits

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Who made this possible?

Credits

The CD inserts were part of a collaboration between Artangel and The Face. 

This project was supported by Arts Council England, Artangel International Circle, Special Angels and The Company of Angels.

 

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