This work is based on Colin McCahon’s, Sacred (1976). Tillers first made the painting in 1989 and titled it Untitled (scared). In 1992 he added a small symbol in the bottom right corner — AIDS — and renumbered the panels, as a homage to Paul Taylor. It relates to the work Victory over death (for Paul Taylor) 1992, which is now in the Museum of Contemporary Art’s collection and is also based on the work of Colin McCahon. 

In 2021, this work became Contagion. Tillers made some changes to the painting and added the word 'contagion' in the top left-hand corner. After working on the painting, which he was slightly nervous about, Tillers came across a black snake at the door of his studio, which he took as a positive omen.