United in Memory: AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibition

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Gilead Sciences, the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, and Eaton HK announced the opening of the “United in Memory: AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibition” to commemorate four decades of HIV care in Hong Kong. The exhibition showcases local and overseas AIDS Memorial Quilts to invite the public to reflect on the impact of HIV and the journey that Hong Kong has gone through since the first case of HIV is identified.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt originated in 1985 from HIV/AIDS activist Cleve Jones who created the first panel in memory of his friend. Today, the AIDS Memorial Quilt is recognized as one of the most extensive community arts projects globally. These visually compelling and emotionally impactful quilts continue to pay tribute to the lives lost — and those still being lost — to HIV/AIDS around the world. Multiple canvases are put together to create each quilt to memorialize those who have passed away from AIDS. These quilts are often handmade by loved ones of the deceased and act as a collective memorial and a space of mourning, reminding the community of the large number of human lives taken away by AIDS.

The four-week exhibition will feature AIDS Memorial Quilts from Hong Kong AIDS Foundation and exclusive digital display of AIDS Memorial Quilts from the archive of The National AIDS Memorial in the United States and a unique black box experience area enabling the public to rethink the issue of HIV/AIDS stigmatization.

The event is also one of the highlights of the “Colors of Life” campaign jointly presented by Gilead Sciences and the Gay Games 11 Hong Kong 2023, which promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion in Hong Kong and across Asia through the stories of remarkable individuals that embody the spectrum of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Rethinking HIV/AIDS Stigmas through Art

Award-winning stand-up comedian Vivek Mahbubani, who participated in the voice-over of the exhibition and the “Colors of Life” Campaign, said “One change I’d like to see after 40 years of HIV in Hong Kong, is a better understanding and respect for this issue. Instead of seeing it as something wrong or bad, why not see it as a hill to have to climb and with everyone’s help, we can get to the other side and even enjoy the better view that life has to offer from that angle.”

Highlights of the “United in Memory: AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibition”

The exhibition is divided into four zones.

Zone 1: Rose (Love), introduces AIDS Memorial Quilts and displays historic quilts from home and abroad, allowing the public to reflect on the past four decades of HIV in Hong Kong through the AIDS Memorial Quilts.

Zone 2: Camellia (Courage), demonstrates international solidarity in the fight against AIDS and showcases a digital display of AIDS Memorial Quilts from the archive of The National AIDS Memorial in the United States. The public can view the quilts from around the world through a slideshow, revisiting self-confessions and heartfelt testimonials of AIDS patients and individuals from all walks of life. In addition, they can scan the QR code to download images of quilts to commemorate those who have passed away from AIDS.

Zone 3: Daffodils (Hope), four locally-made quilts from the early days of Hong Kong’s battle against HIV/AIDS are on display. Members of the public can witness Hong Kong’s 40-year war against AIDS as they take inspiration from the quilts that have transcended over decades or choose to scan the QR code to listen to the insights of people from different walks of life.

Zone 4: Clover (Rebirth), features a black box experience area for the public to rethink the issue of AIDS stigmatization and how to build a more inclusive community for people living with HIV/AIDS.