Vintage newspaper title reading "Wear Protection!"

SYPHILIS IS ON THE RISE

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SYPHILIS IS ON THE RISE -

Button labeled "What is Syphilis?"
Newspaper headline reading, "Syphilis is at its highest levels since the 1950s. Here’s how experts are trying to fix that"
Newspaper headline reading, "Canada almost wiped out syphilis. Now rates are skyrocketing - as more women, infants getting infected"
Newspaper headline reading, "‘A really bad car crash’: Why Health Experts are raising concerns surging syphilis cases - CTV"
Button labeled "Stages of Syphilis"
Newspaper headline reading, "Why Extreme Syphilis Symptoms Are Showing Up Now - The Atlantic"
Ripped paper heading reading, 'What is Syphilis?'
Syphilis can be passed on through various ways: skin contact with a syphilis sore; vaginal, anal or oral sex; sharing sex toys; from pregnant woman to fetus
Ripped paper heading reading, 'Stages of Syphilis'
  • Primary: chancre development 3 weeks after infection; chancre heals within 4 to 6 weeks; symptoms: painless chancre (sore where bacteria entered); signs: chancre development around mouth or genital area
  • Secondary: can occur from 2 to 12 weeks after infection; can occur up to 6 months post-infection; symptoms: muscle ache, weight loss, sore throatmucocutaneous rash, macular lesions, papular lesions
  • Latent: Early latent - First year after infection, no noticeable symptoms, early latent syphilis is still contagious; Late latent - after a year, no noticeable signs, known as the "hidden stage"
  • Tertiary: occurs 20 to 40 years after beginning of infection; can be treated with proper medical treatment; symptoms: cardiovascular and neurological complications, sypgilitc gumma (tumour-like growth); signs: Neurosyphilis, cardiovascular syphilis
Photos of condoms with handdrawn doodles turning them into nets interspersed between swiggles
Ripped paper heading reading, "Testing"
Testing for syphilis can be done: through a blood test; swabbing a syphilis sore; Where: your healthcare provider, sexual health clinic, walk-in clinic
Photos of condoms with handdrawn doodles turning them into nets interspersed between swiggles
Ripped paper heading reading, "Prevention"
Pink condom wrapper with text written top in the center saying "Condoms"
Photos of condoms with handdrawn doodles turning them into nets interspersed between swiggles
Photos of condoms with handdrawn doodles turning them into nets interspersed between swiggles
Pink condom wrapper with text written top in the center saying "Early Treatment"
Pink condom wrapper with text written top in the center saying "Partner Notification"
Treatment follow up: regular blood tests; no sexual contact with new partners; alert sexual partners so they can get tested; get tested for HIV
This dress, made from just over 2000 condoms, is designed to raise awareness about the rising rates of syphilis and highlight the importance of protection. There is still a lot of stigma around STIs and discomfort discussing sexual health.
Ripped paper heading reading, "Artist Statement"
The dress aims to break that stigma and encourage open, honest conversations. 
The design of the dress is inspired by dresses from the Victorian Era, with a corset, full skirt, and multiple layers. Syphilis was known as “the disease of the century” in this time period, having major impacts on public health and culture.
Initial brainstorming sketches of the dress with handwritten notes describing each section
Three Victorian frames of a landscape with rainbows and a woman, with the middle frame reading "It was deeply stigmatized and seen as a moral failing, with women and queer individuals often blamed and criminalized."
Contrastly, the dress also incorporates modern design with a more fitted and less modest silhouette. Bridging these time periods highlights that discussing sexual health is still taboo and the re-emergence of syphilis as a serious health issue.
Final sketch of the dress, a modern take on a Victorian style dress made out of condoms.

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References