AIDS Memory UK has announced that British artist Anya Gallaccio will create London’s inaugural permanent public monument commemorating those affected by HIV/AIDS. Gallaccio, renowned for her minimalist, large-scale installations featuring organic materials, emerged as the chosen artist from a shortlist of four other London-based artists: Ryan Gander, Harold Offeh, Shahpour Pouyan, and Diana Puntar. Her winning proposal centers around a cross-section of a tree trunk, with some inner rings removed and displayed upright nearby. The remaining trunk will take the form of a circular bench-like structure, intended as a communal gathering space.

Gallaccio explained, “The tree is a symbol of life. The planes that line the street sides of the crescent are ubiquitous in the city—they endure pollution. They are survivors, persisting despite their environment—a somewhat fitting metaphor for those living with HIV and AIDS. Hidden in plain sight.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised Anya’s proposal as a potent symbol of solidarity and a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives to the virus. The installation, partially funded by Khan, who allocated £130,000 (USD $166,000) from the city’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm, aims to raise awareness about four vulnerable groups affected by HIV/AIDS: gay and bisexual men, Black and African communities, individuals with bleeding disorders, and IV drug users.

Anticipated to be unveiled in 2027, the monument will be situated near Middlesex Hospital, where Princess Diana inaugurated England’s first dedicated AIDS ward in 1987. The princess famously challenged the stigma surrounding the illness by shaking hands with a stricken patient without gloves, dispelling the erroneous belief that it could be transmitted through touch.

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