I have just spoken with a couple of biologists at the local University, and
their feeling is that since the blood is dried, it should be safe. However,
both of them strongly suggested a call to the U.S. Center for Disease
Control to get their take on the subject. I think this would be wise,
personally, given the nature of the artwork and the artist's apparent
illness prior to his passing.
As for conserving the gauze swab(s): My own first thought would be to treat
it much the same as one would a textile prior to conservation efforts, which
would be to store it in a dark, dry place in its own container or box. In
this case, sealed and well isolated.
I am not a conservator, but have had an experience of working around a work
of art made with the artist's blood, who subsequently passed away. This
work was purchased by a private collector so a museum wasn't involved,
however his concerns were as yours. I was not privileged with the testing
results of the blood, but know that it was deemed safe for display after
being well desiccated. I do know the blood was tested in a lab before
anyone would work with the piece, just for the safety factor.
You can contact them at 1-800-311-3435, or send or send them an inquiry by
clicking here: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Best regards,
Tom Bennett
Anchorage, Alaska, USA
----- Original Message -----
From: Roeland Stulemeijer <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 6:58 PM
Subject: Re: contemporary artwork with blood swaps
> My apologies to all, I mean swabs, gauze with blood.
>
> Before the artists recent passing on, he instructed his brother and a good
> friend how to assemble the work. Nobody has seen the work but what I
> understand from the curator, it is his last work in which he wants to show
> his hardship and battle with his illness.
> As you understand there are no pictures available.
>
> Does this work fit in our collection? Yes, as it would be another work
> done by him. (We have about 1200 of his works)
> Would we buy the work anyway? I don't know
> Does this work make an important contribution to society? Yes, it
would be
> the last work of a well-known local artist.
> Does anyone on this list ever had to deal with conserving cotton gauze
with
> blood? If so, how did you go about doing that?
>
> Please ignore the question on how to display the work, as this is the
least
> of our worries.
>
> That the work could be hazardous is a big concern to us and as you
> understand, we would like to safeguard our visitors and ourselves from
> contagious diseases (if any). The family is not very open about any
> contagious diseases that the artist might have had.
> My curiosity goes towards your thoughts if you were offered a similar
work.
> Do you see any difficulties in accepting the work and why (yes or no).
>
> Excuse my English as I it is not my native language.
> Thank you,
> Roeland Stulemeijer
> Conservator
> National University of Singapore Museums
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Tel: (+ 65) 874 8817
> Fax: (+ 65) 778 3738
> 10 Kent Ridge Crescent
> Singapore 119260
>
>
>
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