Tenderness and Rage

This display presents lived experiences of HIV.

Some of the work on display references illness, death and bereavement, stigma, racism, homophobia and discrimination. There is also material with human tissue and a depiction of surgery.

If you would like further information, please speak to a member of staff.

“Since we reformed in 2014, ACT UP London continues to be united in anger and committed to strategic, joyful direct action to end the HIV pandemic and the wider inequalities that sustain it. Our lineage stretches back from the pink triangles of the camps, through AIDS-era government neglect and Section 28 silence to today’s attacks on trans lives and millions facing death from HIV funding cuts. Silence = Death was never just a slogan – it’s a collective survival strategy.

“We continue to practise die-ins today because memory is a muscle. Movements eat themselves when they forget, and Britain is particularly skilled at erasing histories of resistance.

“Grief is not polite; it’s powerful. Let it out and it becomes alchemy. Die-ins drag history into the street, turning memory and mourning into action, refusing cultural amnesia and institutional bigotry. Until healthcare is universal and war budgets are cancelled, silence is not an option.”

– Dan Glass, ACT UP London activist and author

In 1987, pharmaceutical company Wellcome plc produced AZT (azidothymidine) under the brand name Retrovir. It was one of the first drugs approved to treat HIV and, for several years, it offered the only potential lifeline for many people diagnosed with the disease.

However, its high cost, limited availability and the research approach taken in testing the drug drew strong criticism. Activist groups, such as ACT UP, challenged Wellcome’s policies, arguing that profit was being prioritised over the lives of patients. In January 1989, members of ACT UP from London and Edinburgh organised the first protest against Wellcome at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

“ACT UP London’s first protest was at the Wellcome plc’s annual general meeting in January 1989. I purchased shares to be able to go inside.

“The night before we spray painted ‘silence = death’ on the pavement outside the venue. Our picket line confronted the stern-faced shareholders, their profits coming from the high price of Wellcome’s AIDS drug AZT.

“Inside, it was like a trial. I acted as a prosecutor questioning the board. I used my best schoolmistress voice to scold Sir Alfred, the Chairman and Chief Executive, questioning his pricing policy and attitude to people with AIDS.

“Later ACT UP unveiled a ‘Sell Wellcome’ banner within the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. British ACT UP groups concentrated on shareholder meetings. Under pressure, Wellcome changed its attitude and lowered the price of AZT.

“ACT UP spread to Paris in May, Edinburgh in October, and the following year over much of Europe.”

– Rob Archer, author and co-founder of London and Edinburgh ACT UPs

“I remember standing in front of this photograph with my sister the first time it was shown in 1993. She was shocked to see two men together on a bed in a hospital ward. I was beaming, proud to be leading a team who celebrated this relaxed intimacy between John and his partner. Working in partnership with patients and the significant people in their lives enabled them to be themselves. Their closeness radiates warmth.

“When Gideon first approached me to photograph patients, my initial answer was no. We promised to maintain their confidentiality. I feared breaking this would invite unwelcome attention and put people at risk.

“I was persuaded by the courage and determination of John, André, Ian and Steven to take part, without them we would not have such an important legacy.”

– Jane Bruton, former ward sister on the Broderip and Charles Bell wards at Middlesex Hospital

“I was first diagnosed with HIV in 1992. At the time when we didn’t have medication to treat HIV and were often given only six months to live. Women living with HIV were encouraged to create memories for our children in these boxes, as something they would have to remember us by after we were gone. 

“Over time, the Memory Box became a visual journal. I am so glad that I created these memories and kept the box intact. It means so much to my daughter. It’s important to have these stories about what HIV was like in the early days, so we not only hold on to our history but also celebrate the incredible progress made in HIV.”

– Angelina Namiba, Founder of 4M Network of Mentor Mothers

“Activism is running in my bloodstream. I was once a member of the Treatment Action Campaign and I’m still advocating for the voiceless when it comes to HIV.

“I got employed as an HIV counsellor in 2019, working in the field that I was passionate about. That came to an end in January 2025, after US President Donald Trump decided to stop USAID funding and I lost my job. This led to stress and feeling depressed, as the breadwinner in the family, but I'm soldiering on.

“I never stopped taking care of myself in order to see my daughter, Owami, graduating from university. I was already living with HIV before she was born, and I'm happy that I protected her by using medication then, so she was born HIV negative.

“Reflecting on these images now, I still believe in love and intimacy. I deserve to be loved unconditionally and taken care of, irrespective of my HIV status.”

– Phindile, 2026

FR

“En tant que personne vivant avec le VIH depuis 2008, j’ai été l’une des premières personnes en Haïti à témoigner publiquement pour aider les autres à mieux comprendre la vie d’une personne séropositive. Pour nous, un diagnostic positif n’est pas une fin en soi, mais plutôt le début d’une nouvelle façon de vivre.

“Je dirige une organisation qui travaille avec des groupes vulnérables, notamment les personnes vivant avec le VIH/Sida et les travailleurs et travailleuses du sexe. Ensemble, nous essayons de lutter pour une société juste, honnête et inclusive, et de défendre les droits humains.

“En Haïti, la vie n’est pas facile pour une personne vivant avec le VIH. Grâce au soutien d’organisations internationales, nous avons pu apporter un certain soulagement, mais aujourd’hui 80 per cent de ces financements ont pris fin. Nous faisons tous face à des difficultés, même pour accéder aux traitements antirétroviraux (ARV). Malheureusement, c’est seulement maintenant que je commence à subir de fortes discriminations et stigmatisations.”

– Emmanuel, 2026

ENG

“As a person living with HIV since 2008, I was one of the first people in Haiti to give public testimony to help others better understand the life of someone living with HIV. For us, a positive diagnosis is not an end in itself, but rather the beginning of a new way of living. 

“I run an organisation that works with vulnerable groups, especially people living with HIV/AIDS, and sex workers. Together we try to fight for a just, honest and inclusive society and advocate for human rights.

“In Haiti, life is not easy for someone living with HIV. With support from international organisations, we were able to provide some relief, but now 80 per cent of that funding has ended. We are all facing difficulties, even in accessing antiretroviral treatment (ARVs). Sadly, it is only now that I am starting to experience strong discrimination and stigma.”

– Emmanuel, 2026

ZU

“NginguMelaphi wendabuko, kanye nomgqugquzeli wamalungelo abantu kanye nesifo se-HIV. Iqiniso lithi lapho abantu emphakathini wethu begula, abayi kuphela emtholampilo waseNtshonalanga. Baya KuMelaphi Wendabuko Okhona Endaweni Abahlala Kuyona, ukuze bathole iseluleko . Uma bonke Abelaphi BeNdabuko  beqonda kahle nge-HIV nezinye izifo, kuba lula emphakathini ukwenza izinqumo ezifanele nokuvikela ukusabalalisa i-HIV.

“Ngemuva kwephrojekthi i-Through Positive Eyes, Sengiqeqeshe Abelaphi BeNdabuko abaningi Ukuze Bakwazi  Ukweluleka Abantu nge-HIV. Owesifazane onami ezithombeni eceleni KoLwandle WayewuMakhosi  Engangimusiza Ukuxhumana Kahle NeDlozi Lakhe.Saya olwandle ukukhuluma nokhokho bethu ukuze samukelane nokuncenga nokubuza isiqondiso. Singabantu njengawo wonke umuntu, futhi ukuze sixhumane kahle neDlozi, kuyadingeka ngezinye izikhathi sivakashele okhokho bethu, lapho bephila khona, lapho behlala khona.

“Ngifuna ukutshela umhlaba wonke ukuthi thina njengaBelaphi  Bendabuko, nathi siyafundisa nge-HIV. Yebo, senza izinto ngendlela yendabuko, kodwa nathi Siyabaqwashisa Abantu NgeHIV.”

– Silungile, 2026

ENG

“I am a practising traditional healer, as well as an HIV, gender-based violence and human rights activist. The reality is that when people in our communities get sick, they don’t just go to a Western health facility. They go to the local spiritual healer for consultation and advice. If all healers are well informed about HIV and other diseases, it becomes easier for communities to make good decisions and prevent HIV.

“After the ‘Through Positive Eyes’ project, I have trained a number of healers to provide HIV counselling. The woman photographed with me by the ocean was one of my first trainees. We went to the ocean to speak with our ancestors to receive cleansing and ask for guidance. We are human beings like anyone, and for us to be well connected, we need to sometimes visit our ancestors where they have passed on, where they reside.

“I want to tell the world that, as traditional healers, we also raise awareness about HIV. Yes, we do things the traditional way, but we also make sure our clients have the correct information.”

– Silungile, 2026

ES

“Cuando me mudé al Reino Unido desde Argentina en  2004, me involucré con la comunidad del VIH a través de mi activismo medioambiental. Participé en Through Positive Eyes en 2014, y ahora doy clases de jardinería para mejorar el bienestar de personas que viven con  VIH en Londres.

“Recibir un diagnóstico de VIH positivo puede hacerte sentir profundamente solo y hacerte perder la confianza en ti mismo. A menudo pensamos en el estigma como algo que viene del mundo exterior, pero el autoestigma puede ser igual de aislante y dañino para nuestra salud mental.

“La jardinería te ayuda a reconectarte con otros seres vivos, a darte cuenta de que no estás solo. Si eres capaz de disfrutar de una flor, de observar pájaros e insectos, puede que empieces a sentirte mejor. Cultivar plantas a partir de bulbos, semillas y esquejes te da esperanza. Las palabras ‘cultura’ y ‘cultivar’ comparten una raíz común. Si aprendes a cultivar, aprendes a cuidarte a ti mismo y o ser empatico. Compartimos diferentes culturas que enriquecen nuestras vidas.”

– Virginia 2026

ENG

“When I moved to the UK from Argentina in 2004, I engaged with the HIV community through my environmental activism. I run classes to help people living with HIV in London take better care of themselves through gardening.

“Receiving an HIV-positive diagnosis can feel deeply lonely and reduce your self-confidence. We often think about stigma as something that comes from the outside world, but self-stigma can be just as isolating and damaging to mental health.

“Gardening helps you to reconnect with other living creatures, to realise that you are not alone. If you are able to enjoy a flower, look at birds and insects, you may start feeling better. Growing plants from bulbs, seeds, cuttings gives you hope. The words ‘culture’ and ‘cultivate’ share a common root. If you learn to cultivate, you learn to look after yourself and others. We share different cultures that enrich our lives.”

– Virginia, 2026

UK

“Я живу з ВІЛ від народження. Інші люди дізнаються про свій статус уже в дорослому віці й переживають шок від цієї новини, а в мене ніколи не було «до» і «після» – ВІЛ був зі мною завжди. Хоча світ часто здавався холодним і недружнім, поруч завжди була підтримка – моя мама, соціальні працівники, діти з подібним досвідом.

“Розбитий посуд нагадує мені про важкі часи війни. Коли почалися обстріли, багато лікарень і аптек було зруйновано, і доступ до ліків для людей, які живуть з ВІЛ, став надзвичайно складним. Ми збирали залишки препаратів, мов уламки порцеляни, зберігаючи кожну пігулку, яку могли знайти. Війна розкидала нас по різних містах і країнах, але ми підтримували одне одного й ділилися тим, що мали.

“Сьогодні я підтримую жінок, які живуть з ВІЛ: організовую зустрічі, проводжу арттерапію, ділюся досвідом. Разом ми додаємо нові барви до життя та знаходимо надію.”

– Марія, 2026

ENG

“I have lived with HIV since birth. Other people find out about their status as adults and are shocked by this news, but I never had a ‘before’ and ‘after’ – HIV has been with me always. Although the world often seemed cold and unfriendly to me, there was always support nearby – my mother, social workers, children with similar experiences.

“The broken dishes remind me of the difficult times of the war. When the shelling began, many hospitals and pharmacies were destroyed, and access to medicines for people with HIV became extremely difficult. We collected the remnants of drugs like shards of porcelain, saving every pill we could find. The war scattered us to different cities and countries, but we supported each other and shared what we had.

“Today I support women living with HIV: I organise meetings, conduct art therapy, share experiences. Together we add new colours to life and find hope.”

– Mariia, 2026

“I have been part of Catwalk4Power as a creative facilitator, performer and community advocate, supporting spaces where women living with HIV can express themselves, build confidence and reclaim visibility.

“The objects in this display were created through Powerful Bodies workshops, where women stitched fabric body parts in a supportive, body-positive space shaped by conversation, care and choice. The stitched breast reflects experiences of HIV, treatment, intimacy and healing, and represents an act of reclaiming the body with dignity and tenderness. The Power Bags symbolise protection, resilience and freedom, holding personal stories alongside collective strength. What matters most to me about this project is empowerment and belonging – creating spaces where women are seen on their own terms and healing happens together.”

– Suzyo Charity Nyirenda, writer, mentor and activist