A collaborative project between artist Nancy Burson and Kunio Nagashima, a scientist working on AIDS research, Visualize This was a series of AIDS visualization posters that contained images of healthy and unhealthy T cells, which were photographed using a scanning electron microscope.

The images were juxtaposed with explanatory text that read, “The image on the right is a normal T cell which defends the immune system from infection. The image on the left is an HIV infected T cell.” Visualize This offered a clinical representation of a reality often associated with false stereotypes and prejudices, effectively utilizing the transformative power of scientific imagery and art to inform the general public about AIDS.

Nancy Burson with Kunio Nagashima

Visualize This

New York City

1991