AIDS memorials from obituaries to artworks – a photo essay | ICCROM

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AIDS memorials from obituaries to artworks – a photo essay

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Intended Audience

Those working in and with museums, and in relation to commemoration of lives lost to AIDS, or those working to address inclusion of people with HIV.

J. Wolters, Science Museum Group Journal

2020

“Ever since individuals began to die from the disease (AIDS), memorials and monuments have been created and this photo essay charts the evolution of these from the 1980s to the present day, showing the variety of forms these have taken from informal, ephemeral and activist orientated endeavours to more formal and institutionalised projects.” (p.1)

“This photo-essay shows only a selection of an extreme variety of AIDS memorials that have evolved from spaces of mourning and healing into spaces for empowerment of survivors. In later memorials, caregivers, scientists and activists are explicitly included as well. The trend can be seen through the different categories of memorial described above.

AIDS memorials are certainly cultural heritage. Monuments and other immobile memorials should be officially registered in national heritage registers. Depending on the country, these are organised on the national, regional, county and/or municipal level, but AIDS memorials are hardly officially recognised as cultural heritage.” (p.42)

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The article is a collation of examples of different types of AIDS memorials. The article emphasises that these are a form of cultural heritage, to be managed and developed, so supporting SDG 11.4 (strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage).

Ensuring that people affected by AIDS have access to related cultural heritage supports SDG 1.4 (equal access to property, which includes heritage).

The resource can support action to combat AIDS, through awareness raising and education relating to infectious diseases (SDG 3.3) and sexual and reproductive health (SDG 3.7), managing local and global health risks (SDG 3.D), and supporting Education for Sustainable Development, for a culture of peace and non-violence (SDG 4.7).

The resource can support action for SDG 10.2, promoting social, economic and political inclusion of all people.

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 1.4: Equal Rights to Ownership, Basic Services, Technology and Economic Resources
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
Numbers of people accessing collections.
Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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SDG 3.3: Fight Communicable Diseases
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Collection development that can contribute to programmes addressing AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and/or neglected tropical diseases, combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
Number of educational programmes addressing these subjects.
Number of targeted educational and participatory programmes for marginalized and at-risk groups relating to communicable diseases.
Number of research activities that help understand the causes and manage impacts of tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases.
Partnerships in place to help ensure effective governance of communicable diseases, public health information and education relating to communicable diseases.
Steady flow of reliable information relating to communicable diseases.
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SDG 3.7: Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Care, Family Planning and Education
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of educational programmes relating to collections that address sexual and reproductive health, and family planning.
Number of targeted programmes drawing on collections that address issues relating to sexual and reproductive health, and family planning.
Effective relationships and partnerships in place with related agencies to ensure steady flow of information on relevant strategies and programmes.
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SDG 3.D: Improve Early Warning Systems for Global Health Risks
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Number of collecting initiatives that aim to build capacity for risk reduction to national and global health risks, for example by storing and preserving collections that may be of use in post-disaster scenarios, or that can be used in early warning and risk communication activities.
Number of educational programmes incorporating perspectives on early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
Number of awareness raising programmes that target marginalized and vulnerable groups most exposed to health risks.
Plans in place for early warning, risk reduction and management to national and global health risks.
Relationships and partnerships in place for risk reduction and management in light of national and global health risks.
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SDG 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
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Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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SDG 10.2: Promote Universal Social Economic and Political Inclusion
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Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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SDG 11.4: Protect the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.
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