Tenderness and Rage exhibition at Wellcome Collection explores HIV activism and care

A new exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London, titled 'Tenderness and Rage', examines how HIV-affected communities—including gay men, women of colour, and refugees—used protest and support networks to improve rights and dignity. The show features a documentary 'Dancing Whilst Diagnosed' about the Landmark drop-in centre in Tulse Hill, where former users like Marc Thompson found safety and joy. It also addresses the Wellcome Trust's controversial 75% stake in the company producing AZT, with Act UP activists buying shares to confront executives and successfully lowering the drug's price. Gideon Mendel's series 'The Ward' humanizes four gay men on Middlesex hospital wards. The exhibition includes a memory store by Angelina Namiba and hand-stitched body parts from Catwalk4Power workshops. Curator Adam Rose connects 1990s London activism to present-day campaigns, highlighting ongoing funding cuts. The show runs from 29 May 2026 to 30 May 2027.