The Whitney Actions and the Historicization of HIV/AIDS

ACT UP repeated our Wojnarowicz action at the Whitney on Saturday, August 4th, with the Whitney’s support. Once again, we stood with framed, recent news articles next to specific pieces of art, drawing attention to the ongoing HIV epidemic. Less than a week after our first action, the Whitney had updated the plaque on “Untitled (ACT UP)” (photo below), added some of our articles to its site, and was seeking additional ideas; ACT UP had gotten supportive messages from HIV+ people across the world, both long-term survivors and newly-diagnosed, thanking us and asking us to repeat our action. We expressed this to the Whitney and they agreed to let us in for free so we could come during pay hours, specifically during a sign language tour, as requested by members of the deaf community. The excerpted articles can be found here.

We also met with the Whitney’s education staff to discuss several topics, among them ways information about the modern HIV crisis can be shared with all its patrons, from low-income adults to people who wander through. Our conversations so far have been cooperative and kind, and we look forward to continuing them. But before we were able to have those conversations, we had to address the hostile narratives that had emerged around the actions on social media, narratives that surprised both of our organizations, that artificially pitted us against each other when the ongoing HIV epidemic is the real enemy.

There are rumors circulating still that ACT UP yelled and was aggressive in the museum. The fact of the matter is our actions were quiet and carefully-tailored, with an aim of dehistoricizing HIV/AIDS through education. ACT UP simply stood respectfully in the exhibits, with optional supplemental materials, and only spoke to people who spoke to us first. Patrons chose whether and how to engage. Most patrons engaged with at least one of us. Everyone was kind and helpful to everyone else throughout, from activists to patrons to museum staff. (A video of our second action is below.)

A tour of our #AIDSIsntHistory demo at the @WhitneyMuseum: https://t.co/a50rzMXK7J

— ACT UP New York (@actupny) August 4, 2018

Meanwhile, the Whitney was being accused of having no AIDS sensitivity or programming, even though they do, and ACT UP had acknowledged as much in our original statement (albeit indirectly), and in the interviews we’d given (whether or not this was printed). ACT UP has always had artists and arts employees in its ranks, so we know that the Whitney does more work around HIV/AIDS than most museums, which is one of the reasons we were surprised by some of the choices in the exhibit. We like the retrospective focus on Wojnarowicz’s life, and we wanted to call attention to and continue his hybrid art/activism labor, and show how similar labor is being done in the present because HIV/AIDS is not history. It is possible to like something and want it to be better both, so we decided to lead by peaceful example and educate people at the same time.

Art is Not Enough Gran Fury ACT UP NY poster

What ACT UP wants all arts institutions to do is help keep HIV in the present by sharing information in ways that will reach casual patrons, not just attendees of special events and people who are affiliated with specific institutions. “It’s not a museum’s job to educate people” has been a popular refrain among our critics over the past two weeks, which is ironic considering the prevalence of education departments at arts institutions and the courtesy of the Whitney. ACT UP members often go to HIV/AIDS-related arts events, and we always run into people we already know — meaning a lot of AIDS arts programming is only reaching the same already-informed/interested crowd. The stunned, grateful reaction of the casual patrons to the news we shared underscores that HIV education and outreach are severely lacking in our society. On this point ACT UP and the Whitney, including staff who already work with AIDS art and education, seem to be in agreement.

Throughout all of this, many have written thoughtfully about our actions, and many others have reproduced the very error in judgment we cautioned against in our initial statement: We want people to talk about HIV/AIDS, not ACT UP vs. Whitney. “It’s not a museum’s job to educate people” and “We know you want to talk about AIDS, but this is a genre blog” are two sides of the same coin. AIDS art is about both AIDS and art; to focus on the form at the expense of the function (or vice-versa) is to disrespect art history and creative media generally. Like our flyer says, “We must all learn and share up-to-date medical information about HIV. We must all call for accurate HIV education and adequate funding.” All of the art world is included, just as all of every niche community is included, and it must do its part to get informed so it can help educate the general public.

Recent anti-Gilead action, in which AIDS activists covered the AIDS Memorial in black balloons.

It is frustrating that a small, polite, educational action has gotten more immediate attention than anything else ACT UP has done this year. The Whitney is not a Goliath. Gilead Sciences, which charges over $1600 per month for HIV prevention medications that cost $6 to manufacture, and which we have been actively fighting against for years, is a Goliath. Roche Pharmaceuticals, which uses photos of ACT UP protests to bolster its image after its division heads make statements like “We are not in the business to save lives, but to make money. Saving lives is not our business,” is a Goliath. Governments that shut down clinics during HIV and opioid crises are Goliaths. Public complacency is a Goliath. These are present-day struggles, and we need urgent help addressing them.

In the last five days, ACT UP has explained modern HIV medical science to journalists and doctors alike. This should not be the expected state of the world. Companies, publications, professional associations, and institutions have reach that activists never will, and they have an obligation to use that reach for good. Individuals must use their more limited reach to demand better of companies, governments, and so on. There is no “This is outside my job description” excuse when we’re talking about a public health epidemic.

Here are some simple, practical steps most people can take to help end the HIV epidemic:

• Don’t lower your voice when you talk about HIV/AIDS. This goes a long way toward fighting stigma.

• Go to breakthepatent.org to help get generic PrEP on the American market sooner.

• Learn about PrEP and U=U, and tell your friends. Tell you parents, tell your teachers, tell your doctors. Learn from reputable sources, like the CDC, NIH, WHO, and Planned Parenthood. Don’t let prejudice keep you from believing in thoroughly peer-reviewed medical science.

• Shout down large companies and corporations that misappropriate/historicize AIDS-related protest slogans and imagery on social media — then demand that they use their money and platforms to end AIDS.

• Listen to and advocate for the many aging people with HIV, who often have different perspectives and health needs.

• Get tested, especially if you’re under 25. Almost half of HIV+ people under 25 don’t know it, and will not find out their status for months or years.

About ACT UP

Founded in 1987, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. ACT UP currently meets every Monday night at 7PM ET via Zoom. Notes: you will be asked to contribute your first & last name and email address to access online meetings, and KN-95 masks are required for ACT UP NY in person meetings/actions/gatherings. All individuals are welcome!

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