Access to Life

Overview

AIDS – it’s one of those words that no one likes to say. It's easy to just buy a red ribbon once a year and pretend it doesn’t really exist. But Access To Life wants the viewer to take a moment to pause and think about the fact that thirty years ago AIDS and HIV had never been diagnosed in Australia. Access to life has been touring the world for four years, and focuses on the actual faces behind this disease in some of the worst affected places around the world. Magnum Photos helped create this exhibition, which is in Australia for World AIDS Day 2012.

This exhibition of documentary-style, powerful photographs, often with a strong use of shadows, is divided by country, and photographer. They are accompanied by factual information of the affected individual, including age, marital status, occupation and health information. In many of the strong, dark images, the sick bed is included in shots.

There is a focus on eyes, which lead you throughout the exhibition space, showing both human struggle and resilience. The faces in the exhibition are the small percentage of people who have received antiretroviral treatment, who are "fighting AIDS and winning." The majority of the photographs were taken in 2007 before, and four months after, the subjects received this treatment for AIDS. Chris Steele-Perkins has contributed shots this year from Papua New Guinea (where today’s largest HIV epidemic is in the Asia Pacific).

There are also quotes on the museum’s walls, such as “my body is weak and I like sleep but I force myself to move. I want to be well,” in a hand-writing-like scrawl, which adds to the intimacy of the photographs. They are shot at unusual angles, and hung in clusters.Cases of objects, including condom promotional materials and photographs are also included.

Alongside this exhibition, the Powerhouse has the display HIV & AIDS 40 years on: the Australian story. Condoman (a superhero encouraging the use of condoms) stands next to the grim reaper (from what was a shocking 1987 sexual health campaign), facing a wall of advertising against the spread of aids, and condoms in cases.

Just don’t forget to tie a red ribbon to the railing on the way out.

Photographer Chris Steele-Perkins will talk about his travels 6.30pm  Tuesday 27^th November($15/10).