Through research I found that during crime scenes for rape, any clothing or items that could contain criminal evidence will be destroyed if it is wrapped in plastic, as the plastic makes bacteria multiply and makes the DNA unreadable. Through this you are encouraged to wrap anything that contains the perpetrators DNA in newspaper. I started brainstorming ways in which I could spread this information as I know it isn’t something that is well known. I started to use clothes to demonstrate how this could work and to explain how it could work to people. These clothes are still stained, and haven’t been washed/touched in 4 years, they were left in a ball at the bottom of a wardrobe. I started to collect newspapers, I phoned up 20 different old folks homes and collected 150 newspapers, that would’ve just been recycled. I had the vision to pass them out at an exhibition, so that I can spread the word about why its so important to know this information.

 

This piece was exhibited at West Lothian College for '16-days-Of-Action' in November 2022, helping to spreading awareness for gender based violence. People interacted with the news stand, helped themselves to a newspaper of their own to keep, just in case, and started discussions about this topic and asked me questions about the piece. One person told me that I "impacted at least 3 peoples lives" that day, as he was going home to tell his wife and children and spreading awareness, just in case.

 

The response I got from this piece was positive, and I enjoyed having conversations with the public. I am happy that i have managed to help people as this is my main goal when creating art.