“Grifo nosso: Saint Sebastian”, José Schneedorf (BR)⎜MI19/058/3,

Brazilian artist José Schneedorf creates screen prints focusing on human figures and characterized by complementary and monochrome colour schemes. In his “Grifo nosso” series, exhibited in our Mini Maxi Berlin 2019 exhibition, he explores the collision and the coalition between the art of the 1980s and the HIV/AIDS virus. By contesting and discussing the taboo and negativity surrounding the topic of HIV/AIDS, he touches upon historical themes as well as important societal themes. Schneedorf’s works picture heroic protagonists in historical settings. A red symbol, representing HIV/AIDS, is present on a subject in each of these pieces. This red stands for the social emphasis added to the characters, an emphasis which should be viewed positively, instead of negatively or as a taboo.