introduction

Everyday, I see people take dozens of capsules and tablets to stop the virus from advansing. There are some who decide to do without the medication and let their organism react to the infectional process. Although HIV is not transmissible trough saliva nor sweat nor air, infections -specially through sex- and deaths continue. Being positive doesn't only imply being worried about the virus, but also about herpes, diarrhea, meningitis, neumonia, colds, the family, your partner...

I remember AIDS campaign posters and TV commerciarls, in the 80's and early 90's, promoting condoms as the most effective method against the virus. However, condoms seemed to be more ornamental than preventive: as pendants, bracelets, earrings, glasses, clothing accesories... As time passes, we have noticed a change on how the use of condoms are promoted. We now relate them to more concrete situations and practices.

Taking this perspective into account, Youth & AIDS in glass bed aims to be a frontal, direct and explicit interpretation about the use of condoms and sexual transmission of HIV. Two decades after the discovery of this pandemic, young people, in fullness of sex, have now other ways of protection and fighting the virus. 18 to 34-year-old people participated in the proyect. All of them with active sexual life; all of them from different contexts: with a partner o without one, single or married, heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual, HIV positive or negative, with active, passive or both sexual roles, with or without children. All of them, based on their circumstances, with a specific decision about using or not condoms. Also with a posture against HIV and AIDS.

In Youth & AIDS in glass bed, which also aims to be frisky, a scanner has been used instead of a photographic camera in order to get the images. It has become both an indiscrete window -showing each individual's intimacy- and a cold, passive, erotic voyeurist partner. Signs of capricious sweat, squashed genitals and buttocks -yellowish due to the lack of circulation-, and folded and unfolded condoms are shown. Then Youth & AIDS in glass bed is a fraternal smile to a possible sexual life in a world with HIV.

Alejandro Uranga