By John Mack Freeman
A limited 3,000 issue run of the Austrin queer men’s magazine Vangardist has been printed this month using an HIV-positive blood-infused ink. The ink is completely safe and carries zero risk of infection. The concept was created to draw attention to the fact that new HIV infections have been spiking in recent years due to the stigma of HIV testing that is still present throughout the world. Via Out.com:
“With 80% more confirmed cases of HIV being recorded in 2013 than 10 years previously, and an estimated 50% of HIV cases being detected late due to lack of testing caused by social stigma associated with the virus. This felt like a very relevant issue for us to focus on not just editorially but also from a broader communications stand point.”
Developed in cooperation with Saatchi & Saatchi Switzerland, an ad agency, the printing processes was developed according to guidelines established by Harvard and Innsbruck University.
