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| Thirty,
20" x 20" Framed GSP images with text pedestals |
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| Artist's
Statement |
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| The
people portrayed in this body of work are our lovers, children, sisters,
mothers, fathers, brothers, and close friends. Ordinary people surviving
extraordinary circumstances. Each person represented has been living with
HIV disease at least three years and many have survived for ten years or
more. The media continues to describe the HIV community as victims of the
disease in spite of their leading productive and fulfilling lives, a damaging
association to those with AIDS. HIV and AIDS can become a challenging part
of life in which they can choose to live and thrive with the disease even
into their physical death. |
| I hope
these photographs can lift the veil of fear surrounding the AIDS community.
Perhaps through their steady gazes, Edward, Suzin, Roger, Tom, Blake and
the others can encourage new and positive responses to replace the atmosphere
of misunderstanding. As is evident in these portraits, AIDS does not discriminate
against age, color, or sexual identity; the disease impacts us all. Only
through a positive approach to the AIDS crisis can we hope to affect constructive
changes. |
As
one who has served on the front lines in the war against AIDS, I have
seen enough to know some personal truths. Although many of the people
represented may eventually succumb to AIDS, they consider themselves survivors
by the way they choose to live with HIV disease. The people who face AIDS
with honesty and courage use their experience as a tool for personal growth.
and in doing so, they become the Survivors. |
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| All
Rights Reserved, Patrick V. Brown Photograpy, Inc., 2002-2010 |
