blood

This man from Mirivare village, in Malalaua district of Gulf Province, is a regular at the Port Moresby General Hospital’s blood transfusion centre.

His daughters suffer from an inherited blood disorder called thalassemia, which is characterised by less haemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in the body.

“We travel from Gulf Province to Port Moresby General Hospital… for the past six years,” Troy Meatoro said.

“I just find it difficult travelling from Gulf Province to Port Moresby just to get blood.

Blood: Attract & Repel explores why we're both attracted to and repulsed by blood — a liquid that fills our body but still makes people squirm.

So how do you feel about blood? Let's take a look at some of the featured works, in which art and science collide in curious and sometimes confronting ways.

Compass made from placenta

Art and metallurgy combine in this surprising artwork, where the blood of 69 women's placentas was used to forge the metal needle of this compass.

The technology, which was pioneered in the Netherlands, dramatically extends the shelf life of blood components for up to 10 years.

The blood service said it was critical to have a constant supply in field hospitals, but the technique also has huge benefits for rural and remote communities.

In Australia one in three people need blood, but only one in 30 donate it.