The Brazil Ministry of Health and the Memorial Institute for Artistic Printing present Drawing IT Out: 1st International HIV/AIDS Cartoon Exhibition, with cartoons selected from 1200 works from 50 countries. The exhibit is an initiative of Brazil’s National HIV/AIDS Program, which has been fighting the disease for over 20 years, developing and implementing public policies for widespread treatment and prevention efforts, while respecting the dignity and citizenship of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The word “humorous” has its origins in concepts of health. In Ancient Rome, the “humors” referred to four liquids circulating in the body. For Romans, an individual who had a proper balance of these four humors was considered “good-humored,” and consequently, healthy. Could it then be true that laughter is part of the cure?
This artwork on HIV/AIDS issues comes from greatly diverse cultures of the world and reveals a colorful and spontaneous universe. The comic medium has resulted in a unique and excellent venue for communication and education. Laughter has been a positive strategy to discuss the very serious issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, including: Prevention, Treatment and Human Rights.
Drawing IT Out: 1st International HIV/AIDS Cartoon Exhibition uses poetic license to inspire dialogue and curiosity among audience members in the space they share between the images. The artwork plays with our sense of vision and challenges how we shape our thoughts and reference memory.
Of the 300 cartoons accepted, three were awarded in each thematic category. With subsequent exhibit settings, the artwork has adapted to different forms of media. More importantly, a creative space has been created which inspires progressive ideas, laughter at unusual situations, and deep thinking about behavior when faced with the circumstances and social implications of HIV/AIDS.
Through exhibitions of the work in cities around the world, the Brazil Ministry of Health hopes to strengthen local partnerships, promote debate, and disseminate information on preventing sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Through the artwork, audiences can see and feel an international discussion about the disease, and how they can participate in making the world a healthier place, where human dignity, social standards, and respect for diverse perspectives can prevail.
Brazil Ministry of Health