SOLUTION
Symbolic elements are incorporated into the design to visually represent Henrietta Lacks as the “Mother of Modern Medicine." The flower crown, constructed of florals representing immortality across multiple cultures, captures her legacy as she continues to spur new growth and provide resources to the world. The heart and her image represent Lacks' spirit and the love she and her family share.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The poster serves to highlight an overlooked figure in the medical field and the macabre reality of both the human condition and the exploitation of people for medical research purposes. In red, Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman who was the source of the first known immortal cells – HeLa cells - is depicted. In 1951, Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and her cells were extracted without her consent and used for research. Today, cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide, and studies of cervical cancer still often hinge on the infamous HeLa Cells. Beyond cervical cancer, which can stem from the contraction of HPV, Lacks' cells have also been used worldwide to help with research of polio, AIDS, and, more recently, COVID-19. However, the usage of her cells was not made public until 1975, and for almost three decades, Lacks and her family were not adequately compensated. The Blue image on the poster shows a skeleton wearing a flower crown. While Lacks is no longer present physically, her spirit and legacy live on. Embodying the moniker “Mother of Medicine,” the flower crown represents how her cells have spurred new life and new medicines across the entire world. Each flower represents her immortality in every region of the world.
Directions: Using one lens at a time, look at the poster. Alternate between the blue and the red lenes to see the overlapping images.
October 2023