June 13, 2000

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Twenty-nine renowned artists from five southern African countries have joined together in a unique project to raise global awareness and funds to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is threatening the region.

An exhibition of their works, entitled ‘ArtWorks for AIDS’ will be shown for the first time at the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa in July 2000. The exhibition is co-sponsored by Secure the Future, the US$100m commitment by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to support women and children with HIV/AIDS in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland and HAI of Boston, Massachusetts.

After showing in US and Europe, the art works will be auctioned at a World AIDS Day event in Boston on November 30, 2000. All proceeds will be used to further fund programs designed to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS in southern Africa.

Marilyn Martin, director of the South African National Gallery in Cape Town and curator of ‘ArtWorks for AIDS’, says that she was greatly moved by the response to Secure the Future’s call for interpretations of the theme — the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and children.

"These leading contemporary African artists were enthusiastic about using their talents in creating awareness and hope for persons with HIV/AIDS. The subject of HIV/AIDS is emotional and this project afforded them an opportunity to confront the pandemic from their unique perspective."

"I have no doubt that ‘ArtWorks for AIDS’ will contribute significantly to unlocking resistance, denial and discrimination and to generating hope and healing."

Kenneth E. Weg, vice chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb, says that the exhibition is an innovative step towards bringing the realities of the HIV/AIDS crisis in southern Africa to the attention of caring people in other parts of the world.

"Our joint partnership of the exhibition and auction will help to channel the creative energies and prodigious talents of these artists into a positive contribution to combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region," he says.

Dr. Max Essex, chair of HAI which is working with Secure the Future on several projects in the region, says: "We deeply commend this collaborative effort by artists in southern Africa to draw attention to the epidemic that is sweeping across the region, with a particularly devastating impact on women and children."

Ms. Martin says that participating artists, who include some of the best-known Southern African names in contemporary visual art, have illustrated their ideas in many different ways — abstract, enigmatic, didactic and hard-hitting. The works include photography, linocuts, oil on canvas, clay, wood and needlework.

The artists include: Jane Alexander, Deborah Bell, Willie Bester, Lisa Brice, Norman Catherine, Trudi Dicks, David Goldblatt, Austin Hleza (work provided posthumously), Lallitha Jawahirilal, William Kentridge (auction only), Noria Mabasa, Valentim Macie, Joseph Madisia, Neo Matome, Kagiso Pat Mautloa, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Velaphi Mzimba, Karel Nel, Sam Nhlengethwa, Wonderboy Thokozani Nxumalo, Steve Mashoabathe Rasehloho, Berni Searle, Johannes Mashego Segogela, Durant Sihlali, Penelope Siopis, Clive van den Berg, Hentie van der Merwe, Hercules David Viljoen and Sue Williamson.

The exhibition will open at 1:00 pm in Durban on July 9, 2000 at the Bristol-Myers Squibb booth in the Durban Exhibition Centre.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a $20 billion diversified, global health and personal care company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

HAI is a university-wide organization dedicated to conducting and catalyzing international research to end the worldwide AIDS epidemic.