HIV Positivity: Work of Those Affected

HIV/Aids Epidemic Exhibit: Welcome to our Exhibit held in the Brighton St Peters Library, displaying informative guides regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and paying homage to those who used art to depic their battles with the disease

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Dying with AIDS, Living with AIDS 1991-1992 1993 Mark Leslie

‘Dying with AIDS, Living with AIDS 1991-1992’ is a personal, photographic social documentation of Mark Leslie’s battle with AIDS. Leslie studied photography in Montreal in the 1990’s whilst fighting the virus, and through this book he documented images of his body’s metamorphosis due to the effect of the virus. Unfortunately, little is known and written about Leslie’s life, but this book pays homage to his strength, creativity and courage.

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Just a Pill? 2020 J. Amaro & A. Andrews

‘Just a Pill?’ is a comic book representing and addressing contemporary aspects regarding HIV and AIDS as well as celebrating the success of how easy it is to have a healthy life with the disease. The comics themselves tell stories of personal experiences through colourful and abstract illustrations. These are educational comics about medical care that can be obtained, whilst demolishing the feeling of shame and pressure that lies within the social stigma of living with HIV.

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The Yes No Quality Of Dreams 1988 David Robilliard

The Yes No Quality Of Dreams is a collection of David Robilliard’s works, who during his life decided to depict his fantasies and experiences through poems and paintings as an HIV-infected homosexual in the 1980s. In each artwork it is visible the influence of the London’s Gay clubculture which is highlighted by joy and optimism, but at the same time also full of melancholy and sadness.

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World Aids Day. AIDS poster 

designed by Ideology for National AIDS Trust

1994

Red Ribbon HIV/AIDS badge

Visual Aids

1991

Vibrant, wearable, ribbons have been used as symbols to raise awareness for various subject matters, organisations and charities since its popularisation in the late 20th century. 

Red ribbons have been used to bring awareness to various causes, that alternate in symbolism dependant on context and regions. It’s most popular symbolism is for the solidarity of those living with HIV/AIDS

The red ribbon you see here, was constructed in 1991, by Visual Aids, a New York based arts organisation, that: “utilises art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over” - Visual AIDS

We see in this image, how artists have altered and innovated the ribbon, reaching into deeper aspects of the disease, and simultaneously connecting with individuals whom may have been affected

What separates the red HIV/AIDS ribbon from other symbolic emblems, is that its intention was to showcase solidarity with those living with HIV, rather than a manufactured tool to inform or campaign.