ICYMI: Milwaukee Artist Debuts Pope Benedict Condom Portrait
For 25-year-old artist Niki Johnson’s latest piece, “Eggs Benedict,” the medium is most definitely the message.
A portrait of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI that is made out of 17,000 condoms, the inspiration for Johnson’s subject and materials came after hearing the now-retired Pope deliver a speech on AIDS while on a 2009 tour of Africa.
“I would say that this problem of AIDS cannot be overcome merely with money, necessary though it is,” Benedict remarked. “If there is no human dimension, if Africans do not help, the problem cannot be overcome by the distribution of prophylactics: on the contrary, they increase it.”
To Johnson’s ears, the Pope’s message was that promoting the use of condoms actually increased the prevalence of HIV infection. Appalled, she eventually conceived a way to channel her disagreement, and began amassing thousands of colorful condoms.
More: www.nydailynews.com
Follow Larry Elder on Twitter
"Like" Larry Elder on Facebook
