Men's magazine uses HIV-positive blood as ink to confront 'stigma' associated with disease
Progressive Austrian publication uses controversy to highlight the enduring stigma around HIV
To make a big point, a small Austrian men's magazine has printed an entire edition using ink laced with HIV-positive blood.
The idea, said Julian Wiehl, co-publisher of Vangardist — a "progressive" magazine aimed at young, urban men — was to make a statement that no one could ignore about the stigma still associated with the virus.
"If you see the magazine … the first question that comes to your mind is, 'Would I touch it? Would I take it in my hands?'" Wiehl said. "And the second question is, 'Why would I touch it?' or 'Why wouldn't I touch it?'"
From a health and safety perspective, picking up the magazine is not a problem. As has been known for many years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) quickly dies outside the body and can only be transmitted by direct contact with body fluids, mainly blood and semen.
To be doubly sure, and to kill any other pathogens, Vangardist sterilised the HIV-positive blood obtained from three donors before mixing it with the red ink used to print the magazine.
The ink used in all 3,000 copies is one part blood to 28 parts ink, Wiehl said.