Project Statement: thriving
Thriving is a story about the resolve of five HIV positive men, Derek, Jason, Gabe, Shelby, and Steve. All five men contracted the deadly virus when there was no cure and when many people, including close friends, were dying all around them. For years they carried around the unimaginable burden of feeling certain that death was imminent. After countless extremely difficult emotional and physical setbacks, hope finally arrived.
HIV is no longer a death sentence and Derek, Jason, Gabe, Shelby, and Steve continue to live and thrive with the virus. Throughout the process of this project, I was inspired by the unflinching honesty, courage, perseverance, and resiliency demonstrated by these young men. Each portrait conveys a sensitive and emotional expression of life. Underneath each portrait is a quote by the sitter regarding HIV no longer being a death sentence. And linking each portrait is a visual metaphor representing life and how all living things have the ability to thrive given the opportunity.
“Whenever AIDS has won, stigma, shame, distrust, discrimination and apathy was on its side. Every time AIDS has been defeated, it has been because of trust, openness, dialogue between individuals and communities, family support, human solidarity, and the human perseverance to find new paths and solutions.”
-Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS
Derek
“I’m happy you’re doing this [the thriving project] because there is a huge
generation of young adults that have no fear about it [HIV] and it’s still a
life-threatening illness, that left untreated it will kill you . . . I think that’s lost
on the younger generations."
Jason
“I contracted it (HIV) in 1995 and it’s 2018 and I’m still here
and I’m still kicking, and not just kicking but I’m thriving.”
Gabe
"We all live with HIV"
Shelby
“It was just, you know, getting by year to year and trying to maximize
what you would accomplish in that year and not trying to get to thinking
too long term, you know, because that was self-defeating. But now, you
can look a little further.”
Steve
“I never thought I was going to be around this long”
Thriving