The AIDS Memorial Sculpture designed by Irish artist, Romany Mark Bruce, is located in New
Steine Gardens. The four-metre-tall sculpture is made of cast bronze mounted on a stone plinth.
It depicts two entangled bodies, one male and one androgynous, reaching upwards towards the sky. The androgynous figure is illustrative of the fact that the virus is not exclusive to gay men, which is a common misconception. When the sun shines through the piece, it casts the shadow of a ribbon shape, representative of the red AIDS awareness ribbon.
Bruce submitted the design to a competition for a memorial piece commemorating those who were affected by HIV and AIDS. He was selected and commissioned for the piece which was unveiled in Kemptown on 9th October 2009 by Canadian-British filmmaker and avid supporter of HIV/AIDS charities, David Furnish.
The artist faced a few challenges during the installation of the statue, including the inner steel frame collapsing during work and freezing winter temperatures posing many issues along the way.
Since its unveiling, the piece has become an iconic Brighton landmark and served as a poignant reminder of the suffering millions of people have faced at the hands of HIV and AIDS.
The sculpture was in situ ahead of World Aids Day 2009 and has become a significant spot for the remembrance, reflection and support of victims. Annually on 1st December, World Aids Day, a candlelit vigil is held at New Steine Gardens where names are read and visitors are encouraged to seek solace and reflection.
The artist credited the inspiration for this sculpture to the heartbreaking loss of his best friend
and soulmate, Paul Tay, who passed away as a result of AIDS in 1992. Due to the stigma of the
illness, Bruce found himself reluctant to discuss the details of the death which created internal
fears around forgetting his dear companion. This sparked his drive to create a public space to
gather for grieving and remembering victims of AIDS.
Bruce hoped that the artwork would also raise awareness around the prevalence of AIDS and
the suffering that so many endured, and continue to endure. During the AIDS epidemic,
thousands died from the disease which disproportionately affected the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2019, an estimated 105,200 people are still living with HIV in the UK so the need to spread awareness remains important, yet there are very few memorials of this kind in the UK.
Statistics from the National Aids Trust and WHO.
Address: New Steine, Brighton, BN2 1PB
No dogs are allowed in New Steine Gardens.
