The Wellcome Collection in London opened a free exhibition on May 29, 2026, titled “Tenderness and Rage” [1].
The exhibition documents the intersection of care-based activism and public protest. By showcasing the lived experiences of those affected by HIV, the collection illustrates how grassroots movements secured greater dignity and legal rights for patients [1].
The display features a diverse array of artifacts, including photographs and hand-stitched plushies. These objects represent the efforts of HIV-positive women and organizations such as ACT UP to find power and joy amidst a public health crisis [1, 2].
Among the visual records are photographs of mass “die-in” protests conducted during the 1990s [2]. These events were designed to force public and governmental recognition of the mounting death toll and the urgent need for medical intervention [2].
Other exhibits focus on the more intimate side of activism. Hand-stitched plushies of breasts, lips, and vulvas created by HIV-positive women serve as symbols of comfort and bodily autonomy [1, 2]. These items highlight the role of tenderness in a movement often defined by its rage against systemic neglect [1].
The Wellcome Collection provides admission to the exhibition free of charge [1]. The curation aims to show that the fight for HIV/AIDS rights was not only a political battle, but a community effort to provide care where the state had failed [1].
“The exhibition illustrates how care-based activism and protest improved the rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS.”
By centering both the 'rage' of political protest and the 'tenderness' of mutual aid, the exhibition frames the HIV/AIDS crisis as a catalyst for modern patient advocacy. It demonstrates how marginalized groups transitioned from passive recipients of care to active participants in medical and legal policy, creating a blueprint for future public health activism.
