Yesterday, I thought I discovered the creepiest ArtPrize entry this year... I was wrong. An artist from Mount Pleasant, MI painted 3 portraits of three symbols (a scorpion, bio-hazard, and red-ribbon) that are commonly tattooed on HIV positive men. The medium? HIV positive semen and acrylic paint.

The entry into the contest is designed to bring awareness of HIV and to encourage people to get tested for the disease. The entry is located in Rumors Night Club, a gay bar and dance club in downtown Grand Rapids.

The artist's ArtPrize page had this description:

This series paintings was created using semen and acrylics. Each symbol, the scorpion, bio-hazard, and red ribbon are common tattoo iconography HIV+ gay men may get to indicate their positive status. Just over 4 oz. of semen was used per painting. The red spots on the Scorpion and Bio-hazard paintings are actual HIV+ semen and the gold spots on the Red Ribbon painting are HIV+. These paintings were created as a reminder that we all come in contact with people every day who are HIV+. Unlike the 70's, 80's and early 90's, Being HIV+ is no longer a death sentence. Today people are living Positive, Long, Healthy lives.