Artist Helen Birnbaum’s ‘Viral Chess’

Helen Birnbaum is a ceramic sculptor and Northern Potter based in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. Helen completed an MA in Ceramics at UCLan, here she presents her recent ceramic work ‘Viral Chess’.

‘Viral Chess’ is an interpretation of the stigma of viral infection and communicates difficult ideas powerfully, but with a sense of fun. The work allows people to identify viruses as if they are pieces on a chess board; audiences have been fascinated to learn about the spread of viruses, and the discrimination people suffering from them face, through the medium of a game of chess.

The cartoon-like ceramic forms, and scientific details about viral infection, made an impact when the work was exhibited at Bath Fringe Arts Festival and Warrington Arts Festival in 2016.

‘Viral Chess’ represents the daily game of strategy and chance encountered by us all. The size of each piece is relative to the level of discrimination faced by those with the infection and the sculptural form of each piece is inspired by the shape of the virus itself.

The ceramic pieces in black, white and red represent HIV and AIDS, hepatitis B, avian flu viruses and tuberculosis (TB). The kings are HIV and AIDs, the knights are hepatitis B, the queens are tuberculosis, the rooks are avian flu and the bishops are manufactured bacteriophages. These dramatic figures are surrounded by red and white blood vessel pawns.

The irregular squares of the chess board provide the viruses with their unstable living environment whilst many of the squares contain screen print information about the discrimination and stigma people face.

For more information, contact Helen here.