Vivono. Art and Affection: the HIV‑AIDS exhibition at Centro Pecci

Vivono. Art and Affection: the HIV‑AIDS exhibition

The Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci in Prato hosts an exhibition exploring the years marked by HIV and AIDS from 1982 to 1996. Curated by Michele Bertolino, the show connects artworks, filmic documents, posters and press material to present a human and documentary reading of the period.

What to see

The display brings together multiple languages to portray the epidemic’s effect on private and public life:

• commemorative installations listing names and personal memories;
• paintings, sculptures and photographs offering direct testimony;
• video works and archival documents, including posters and press clippings;
• sections focused on key cultural figures of the era, with biographical context.

Why visit

The exhibition functions as a space of collective memory rather than a stylistic survey: it helps visitors understand artists’ cultural responses, shifts in emotional relationships, and how communities processed grief and resistance. The works combine pain, commitment and the intent to preserve shared memory.

Practical information

• Venue: Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Viale della Repubblica 277, Prato (PO), Italy.
• Curator: Michele Bertolino.
• Visitor tips: allow time for video and archival sections; some rooms reward a slow, attentive visit.
• Sensitive content: the exhibition contains emotionally charged material; discretion is advised for visitors.

This exhibition is an opportunity to consider how art contributes to collective remembrance and how artistic language can turn mourning into active testimony.