Viral Landscape No. 3

Helen Chadwick (1953-1996) presents here a personal response to landscape, offering a disturbing alternative to idealised, romantic views of nature. The image for Viral Landscape No.3 was created by layering a photograph of the rocky coastline in Pembrokeshire with scans of tissue specimens from Chadwick’s own orifices, referencing the 1980s fears of HIV/AIDS and consequent moral panics. This exploration of the fluidity and porousness of our bodies’ boundaries feels particularly resonant at this time, as we continue to live with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.