Condom Art

Bertini works with the latex from condoms that have failed quality control testing or that have expired, dying and handling the material in different ways to make "functional" art that is designed to reach people in a very direct way. The approach is as follows: the person who wears a bikini top made out of condoms or seats his or her houseguest on a giant heart-shaped cushion/seat with a top covering made from condoms may inspire dialogue and raise awareness. The questions that underlie Bertini's pieces are: what is HIV/AIDS prevention in first place? How can we create more effective safe sex campaigns?

One of Bertini's strategies involves using condom art to personalise the face of AIDS. Drawing on techniques of manual weaving, she uses condoms to form a desired image - in this case, faces of people who died of AIDS as well as those who have made a difference and communicated a strong message, such as Nelson Mandela, Bono Vox, and various Brazilian activists. This series is called "Still Without a Name".

This excerpt from Adriana Bertini's website describes her strategy: "She transforms into art and awareness the material that would be destined to incineration (that pollutes the environment due to the high levels of sulfur) or common litter because the material is not bio degrading. Creatively preserving man's individuality, her work has the objective of wide spreading the use of the condom in the manner of art, creating a new form of thinking in the people in order that they become aware of the reality in situations of risk in the face of HIV. How can we alert people against the danger of pleasure without advocating self-denial, which we know is impossible? Adriana Bertini utilizes painting techniques, collage, sculpturing and dying to give life to her pieces."

To view a gallery of Bertini's work, visit her photostream.

Condom Art also includes a workshop component, which is designed to: promote condom use by advocating sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV/AIDS prevention; de-mystify taboos and prejudices related to the topic of sexuality; encourage the negotiation of condom use; and educate communities and societies at risk. As part of these workshops, the theme of sexuality is presented through interactive didactic activities, supported by audiovisual resources. The focus is on "[t]he manual handling of the condom, actively and playfully, and the creation of an artistic work from its material" in an effort to transform the object "condom" into an object of art using cut-out and tapestry techniques.

Safe Sex, HIV/AIDS.

Bertini displayed her work at the AIDS 2002 Conference in Barcelona. However, she explains that, though she has shown her work at schools, universities, and companies, she has met some resistance to condom art in Brazil. She asks that organisations wishing to exhibit her art contact her at the address below.