White linen embroidered with a flower and the initials 'SC' with a letterpress narrative describing its role in protecting the artist from AIDS. Colour silk screen print after S. Calle, 1993.

  • Calle, Sophie.
Date:
[between 1990 and 1999];
Reference:
672755i
Part of:
Images pour la lutte contre le SIDA
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view White linen embroidered with a flower and the initials 'SC' with a letterpress narrative describing its role in protecting the artist from AIDS. Colour silk screen print after S. Calle, 1993.

In copyright

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Credit

White linen embroidered with a flower and the initials 'SC' with a letterpress narrative describing its role in protecting the artist from AIDS. Colour silk screen print after S. Calle, 1993. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

The embroidery of Sophie Calle's initials was by one Valentine, a centenarian. Calle gave it to one Hervé who was sick with AIDS, as a thank-offering for his refusal to sleep with her when he was HIV-positive, and in the hope it may give him strength. He died at the age of thirty-six

Publication/Creation

[Paris (137, bld Del. Magenta, 75010, Paris, France)] : Artis, [between 1990 and 1999]; (France; Sérigraphie Graficaza)

Physical description

1 print : silk screen print, printed in colours ; sheet 84.2 x 59.3 cm.

Series

Contributors

Lettering

Images pour la lutte contre le SIDA. Artis. Elle s'appelait Valentine ... Elle est morte le 4 février 1988. ... Le 27 décembre 1991, Hervé est mort à l'âge de 36 ans. Letterpress text: "Elle s'appelait Valentine ... Elle est morte le 4 février 1988. Avant de mourir elle avait brodé un drap à mes initiales. Je l'offris à Hervé, alors malade, en souvenir de cette nuit, lointaine déjà, où je jui avais proposé mon lit. Il m'avait opposé un refus, ajoutant: "Plus tard, tu sauras que je te sauve la vie." Je l'invitai ainsi à dormir un peu avec moi. Et puis, j'aurais aimé croire qu'ayant été brodé par une femme devenue centenaire grâce à une volonté farouche, ce drap, auréolé de foi, lui transmettrait sa force. Le 27 décembre 1991, Hervé est mort à l'âge de 36 ans."

Copyright note

Sophie Calle cArtis 199- Artis 16/12/08 and 13/11/2009 France UkLW Transcription from the item

References note

Images pour la lutte contre le SIDA, images against AIDS, Paris; Artis, 1993, pp. 60-61

Reference

Wellcome Collection 672754i

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