Experimental Design: First Place, Most Professional

Mark Bunch
Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Be Safe

Artist's Statement: I began this project at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in March 2001 as part of a self directed class. I chose to focus on HIV awareness because there seemed to be a lack of HIV public service announcements in the Minneapolis area. I contacted the Minnesota AIDS Project and they were interested in having a public service announcement that could be shown at various nightclubs, group meetings and other public forums.

In doing research for the project I discovered that very few people know what an AIDS drug regiment "cocktail" really is. Many of the people I spoke to thought it was some- thing that you drank and you only took it once. I felt it was important to make people more aware of HIV/AIDS and what it is like to be on such a strict drug regiment.

My main objective with the piece was to show that taking these drugs is not a pleasant experience. I used timing and pacing, as well as audio, to surprise the viewer and educate them as well. I wanted the piece to have a light-hearted feel yet with a message that forces the viewer to reconsider the problem of HIV/AIDS and the fact that it is still a very serious health issue.