Through positive eyes
The 'Through Positive Eyes' exhibition , which features over 100 photographs, sculptural works, and live storytelling documenting the realities of individuals living with HIV across the globe, will run until 22 July.
THE ‘Through Positive Eyes’ exhibition , which features over 100 photographs, sculptural works, and live storytelling documenting the realities of individuals living with HIV across the globe, opened at the Durban Art Gallery on Sunday 17 July, coinciding with the International Aids Conference in Durban this week.
Through Positive Eyes puts cameras into the hands of HIV-positive people, encouraging them to show their faces and daily lives as a response to stigma, putting their words and images at the heart of the response to the disease.
At the opening, Judge Edwin Cameron spoke of his personal journey with living with HIV / AIDS and how he “bought” back his life by going onto ARVs. Hearing about the murder of Gugu Dlamini in KwaMashu in December 1998 after she had declared her HIV status on national radio, influenced him hugely. “My life was given back to me due to wealth and privilege, her death made it impossible for me to live in silence.”
Margaret Hemphill from the Ford Foundation, part-funders of the exhibition, said: “The photographs tell such profound stories. They are quite extra ordinary and go a long way towards addressing inequalities,”
Co-curator David Gere spoke of the notion of “Artivist” (artist activists) and their role in the exhibition process. Since 2007, 122 HIV-positive people in nine major cities have taken part in this participatory photography project, contributing to an archive of photographs and mini-documentaries, all available online at www.ThroughPositiveEyes.org.
A group of HIV-positive participants has been convened by the AIDS Foundation of South Africa (AFSA). This group of Durban “Artivists”- artist/activists – will share their stories live in the galleries throughout the run of the exhibition, in a theatrical environment created by New York artist Stan Pressner.
All are welcome to the exhibit. Gallery Hours: Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 4pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm. *Special extended hours during the International AIDS Conference from 18 to 22 July 8.30am to 6.30pm with special live performances by Drama for Life at 11am, noon, 1pm and 5pm.
