Newsweek International Examines Artwork in South Africa as Method of Bringing Attention, Acceptance to HIV/AIDS Issues

South African artists are producing "powerful images" by creating artwork that deals with HIV/AIDS, and activists are promoting "participatory art" among HIV-positive people in the country to bring renewed attention to the disease, Newsweek International reports. About 5.6 million HIV-positive people live in South Africa -- more than in any other country -- but less than 2% of news coverage in the country deals with HIV/AIDS. Artwork brings the "reality of the pandemic to people's attention," Marilyn Martin, head of collections at the South African National Gallery, said. Promoting AIDS-related artwork in townships most affected by the epidemic has become a "key strategy for fighting the plague," according to Newsweek. Some artwork promotes HIV/AIDS therapy, while other pieces challenge the government's "foot dragging" in response to the epidemic, Newsweek reports. New, innovative works -- inspired by the "enormity of the crisis" -- illustrate that art inspired by HIV/AIDS can "be beautiful and still make its raw point," according to Newsweek (Masland/Gurney, Newsweek International, 10/11).

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