Collaborative artwork – Ella Breese, Madoc Miller and Lydia Wells
The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among young people, particularly university students, made this topic an area of interest to us as it is relatable and relevant. We focused our collaborative research specifically on Gonorrhea – a bacterial infection that often has a negative stigma – so it is not spoken about and we feel it is important to change this.
Gonorrhea can be spread from mother to baby during childbirth. If left untreated, pregnant women have an increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth. Babies born while the mother is infected can get eye infections that may lead to blindness and in our artwork we chose to represent this devastating aspect of the infection by blindfolding a newborn with Gonorrhea.
We swaddled a doll with a sheet covered in a microscopic bacteria pattern. The sheet represents the common place for sexually transmitted infections to be passed. We have contrasted the repellent effects of Gonorrhea with a cosy pretty pattern painted in pinks and reds-the colours the bacteria appears on a microscopic slide. The tight wrapping of the doll signifies the suffocation of this infected newborn – that the child has no choice in the matter.
In our group’s background research we learned about the similarities and differences in treatment of the same condition across the globe and the significant impact of varying social attitudes towards sexual health. Accessibility in Healthcare with regard to STI’s is also hugely significant in prevention and treatment.
I think this piece touches on an area of medicine and disease that isn’t talked about much and needs more awareness to it. When most people think of sick babies they think of birth defects or some other condition associated with development, not preventable diseases such as Gonorrhea that are often associated with a much older age group. I love the juxtaposition of the baby being swaddled in fabric – usually associated with comfort and care – and what that fabric actually represents; death, illness and suffering. I think the blinding is particularly effective as it not only represents the horrific damage this infection can cause (blindness), but also in a way the ignorance of others to this problem; we ourselves are blinded to it. This highlights the importance of medical intervention and funding to deprived areas as this could stop, or at least reduce, the amount of babies and mothers this infection unnecessarily affects.