After Silence: A History of AIDS through Its Images

by Avram Finkelstein

Early in the 1980s AIDS epidemic, six gay activists created one of the most iconic and lasting images that would come to symbolize a movement: a protest poster of a pink triangle with the words “Silence = Death.” The graphic and the slogan still resonate today, often used—and misused—to brand the entire movement. Cofounder of the collective Silence = Death and member of the art collective Gran Fury, Avram Finkelstein tells the story of how his work and other protest artwork associated with the early years of the pandemic were created. In writing about art and AIDS activism, the formation of collectives, and the political process, Finkelstein reveals a different side of the traditional HIV/AIDS history, told twenty-five years later, and offers a creative toolbox for those who want to learn how to save lives through activism and making art.

Genres: History, LGBT, Nonfiction, Queer, Gender and Sexuality, Politics, Queer Studies

232 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2017

About the author

Avram Finkelstein is an artist, activist and writer living in Brooklyn, and a founding member of the Silence=Death and Gran Fury collectives, and is featured in the artist oral history project at the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art. His book, After Silence: A History of AIDS Through its Images, is available through University of California Press. He has work in the permanent collections of MoMA, The Whitney, The Metropolitan Museum, The New Museum, The Smithsonian, The Brooklyn Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum and The New York Public Library, and his solo work has shown at The Whitney Museum, The Cooper Hewitt Museum, Yale University Art Gallery, FLAG Art Foundation, The Museum of the City of New York, Kunsthalle Wien, The Harbor Gallery, Exit Art, Monya Rowe Gallery, and The Leslie Lohman Museum.

Reviews

[Larry-bob Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

While many are familiar with some of the graphics associated with ACT UP, like the Silence = Death pink triangle poster and the Read My Lips graphics, what this book does is give the backstory of the collective processes that led to the creation of these powerful works. I’d had a copy of Douglas Crimp’s 1990 book AIDS Demo Graphics since its publication, but while that book shows the images and chronologically lists the demonstrations they were used at, the process of their creation is omitted; consequently when I produced graphics influenced by images I saw in the book I did them as an individual, having no guidelines to collective process. Avram Finkelstein draws back the curtain to the brainstorming, the disagreements, the flashes of inspiration, the compromises, the breaks with collective decision-making, and the collective processes by which these images came to be. He also briefly discusses at the end the Flash Collective work he has been doing with people in workshops lately (more of which can be explored on his website.) The book is written in a clear, incisive, non-academic style.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept blowing me away. Any activist who wants to effect change, right now, but is not sure what they can do to help the world's many, many problems, should pick up this book to be inspired by one person's journey through collective action during one of our country's darkest hours. This brought me to tears many times, and is helping to fuel my fire.

[Michael Venturiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an LGBTQ+ historian, it means something when I say I've never read a book quite like this before. Finkelstein - a co-founder of the Silence = Death collective and original member of Gran Fury and ACT UP - has blended touching memoir, rage-fueled activism how-to, and historical nonfiction into an inspiring collection of stories that tell the story of AIDS through it's images. Finkelstein goes in depth on the creation of some of the most famous (and infamous) images throughout AIDS history, down to the details of the font choice and size. It's an empowering look into early ACT UP and AIDS activism spaces, as well as a journey over time through protease inhibitors and even a present day call-to-action. While at times it felt a bit "heady," philosophical, and academic, Finkelstein does a great job in engaging the reader in questions about the purpose of these images - is it art? Is it politics? Both? And why does it matter? In addition, Finkelstein also adds heartfelt stores of "unknown" activists who helped paved the way and create change, which felt especially important, as they may not be remembered in the larger narrative, or with younger generations. Overall, I appreciated this unique style of story telling, with a mix of history, art, memoir, and reflection.

[Joshua Quiñones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invaluable primary source on the early decades of the AIDS epidemic. Part historical record, part memoir, part political manifesto, Finkelstein weaves a sharp path through complex waters and does not shy away from issues of class, race, and gender as they intersect with the queer’s community’s wrestling with finding a voice in a homophobic and cispatriarchal parent culture. Brilliant—a must read!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yours if you read activist gibberish. When theory meets action. Articulation. Mad Love to the artists and creators on the front lines. So relevant to the public health crises of today

[Brian Kovesci · Rating 4 out of 5]

The government is censoring healthcare research and messaging. We need to be reminded of how our gay uncles responded to a shitty government.

[julianna♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. Period.