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MESSAGGIO D'AMORE
"LIFE AND ART OF A LONELY ARTIST, DESPITE LOVE"
The artist Raffaele Ciotola, living with HIV, paints with his own blood: "to raise awareness among young people"
This artistic creation of mine is born from a deep desire to raise awareness among young people about HIV, a virus that, unfortunately, is still a reality we have to live with. Despite the progress in treatment, HIV has not been defeated, and its control is only possible through therapies that, while not offering a definitive solution, allow for a normal life. My work aims to encourage reflection on this reality, to prevent it from being forgotten or underestimated.
This creation is the result of an act of love—not only for art, but also for life, and for all those who, like me, are fighting a difficult and often invisible condition. Yet this artistic revelation has also been painful, because it forced me to face an even harsher reality: the ignorance and social fear that have led to rejection and distancing from people I believed were sincere. Friends who had once shared joy and laughter with me suddenly disappeared, without any clear explanation. A silence that hurts, that has isolated me, and made me realize how deeply rooted, even in 2024, is the irrational fear toward those who are "different."
Despite the support and love of my partner—who is healthy and loves me deeply—I am enveloped by loneliness when he is not around. And in those moments, I come face to face with a painful truth: being seen as "contaminated," simply because I had the courage to make a difficult choice—to confront an uncomfortable topic and reveal my truth.
This feeling of marginalization is a major burden, a wound that sometimes brings me to tears and leaves me with a heavy sense of awareness. At times, in moments of solitude and pain, I wondered whether creating this work had been a mistake. But then I realized—it was not a mistake. It is a truth that screams in silence and deserves to be heard.
This artwork is not disgusting, nor monstrous: it is an act of courage. A statement that has the power to shake people, to make them reflect. Art should not settle for being pleasing or easily digestible—it must disturb, it must provoke thought, it must fight ignorance. And yes, fear is a sign that this work has the power to spark change.
The risk? None. For those concerned about safety, I can assure you the virus dies within seconds upon contact with air. The blood has been treated with a fixative that makes it completely harmless. There is no danger. What we’re seeing is simply a reaction to the fear of the unknown, to the fear of what isn’t understood. And this fear, as often happens, is ignorance standing in the way of progress.
I ask myself: did I go too far just to be heard by young people? Maybe. But I hope they will remember me for the courage it took to confront a difficult subject, for the courage to expose myself publicly. My hope is that my work will help provoke reflection, to prevent young people from making the same naive mistakes I did, ignoring the danger of a virus that, sadly, has not yet been defeated.
I want this piece to be a symbol of change, a catalyst for greater awareness. A message that goes beyond fear and ignorance, and that invites reflection. This work is not just art—it is a cry of truth.
I tried to exhibit my work in various galleries, even in cities like Rome, approaching prestigious and well-known spaces. Unfortunately, although the doors initially seemed open, I received only rejections. It's frustrating to see how art, when it challenges conventions and deals with uncomfortable themes, is so often turned away. Nevertheless, I won’t give up. I firmly believe that art must be a vehicle for change, and that only through awareness and open-mindedness can we overcome ignorance. My work carries a powerful message, and I will continue to fight to make it heard, because I know that, in the end, art will prevail.
The artist Raffaele Ciotola, living with HIV, paints with his own blood: "to raise awareness among young people"
This artistic creation of mine is born from a deep desire to raise awareness among young people about HIV, a virus that, unfortunately, is still a reality we have to live with. Despite the progress in treatment, HIV has not been defeated, and its control is only possible through therapies that, while not offering a definitive solution, allow for a normal life. My work aims to encourage reflection on this reality, to prevent it from being forgotten or underestimated.
This creation is the result of an act of love—not only for art, but also for life, and for all those who, like me, are fighting a difficult and often invisible condition. Yet this artistic revelation has also been painful, because it forced me to face an even harsher reality: the ignorance and social fear that have led to rejection and distancing from people I believed were sincere. Friends who had once shared joy and laughter with me suddenly disappeared, without any clear explanation. A silence that hurts, that has isolated me, and made me realize how deeply rooted, even in 2024, is the irrational fear toward those who are "different."
Despite the support and love of my partner—who is healthy and loves me deeply—I am enveloped by loneliness when he is not around. And in those moments, I come face to face with a painful truth: being seen as "contaminated," simply because I had the courage to make a difficult choice—to confront an uncomfortable topic and reveal my truth.
This feeling of marginalization is a major burden, a wound that sometimes brings me to tears and leaves me with a heavy sense of awareness. At times, in moments of solitude and pain, I wondered whether creating this work had been a mistake. But then I realized—it was not a mistake. It is a truth that screams in silence and deserves to be heard.
This artwork is not disgusting, nor monstrous: it is an act of courage. A statement that has the power to shake people, to make them reflect. Art should not settle for being pleasing or easily digestible—it must disturb, it must provoke thought, it must fight ignorance. And yes, fear is a sign that this work has the power to spark change.
The risk? None. For those concerned about safety, I can assure you the virus dies within seconds upon contact with air. The blood has been treated with a fixative that makes it completely harmless. There is no danger. What we’re seeing is simply a reaction to the fear of the unknown, to the fear of what isn’t understood. And this fear, as often happens, is ignorance standing in the way of progress.
I ask myself: did I go too far just to be heard by young people? Maybe. But I hope they will remember me for the courage it took to confront a difficult subject, for the courage to expose myself publicly. My hope is that my work will help provoke reflection, to prevent young people from making the same naive mistakes I did, ignoring the danger of a virus that, sadly, has not yet been defeated.
I want this piece to be a symbol of change, a catalyst for greater awareness. A message that goes beyond fear and ignorance, and that invites reflection. This work is not just art—it is a cry of truth.
I tried to exhibit my work in various galleries, even in cities like Rome, approaching prestigious and well-known spaces. Unfortunately, although the doors initially seemed open, I received only rejections. It's frustrating to see how art, when it challenges conventions and deals with uncomfortable themes, is so often turned away. Nevertheless, I won’t give up. I firmly believe that art must be a vehicle for change, and that only through awareness and open-mindedness can we overcome ignorance. My work carries a powerful message, and I will continue to fight to make it heard, because I know that, in the end, art will prevail.
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