Eroticising the Archive: AIDS Anarchive at Tabakalera

On September 14, 2016, María Iñigo-Clavo published an essay analyzing the exhibition 'Anarchivo sida' at Tabakalera in Donostia/San Sebastián, Spain. Curated by Equipo re—which includes Aimar Arriola, Nancy Garín, and Linda Valdés—the exhibition presented activist materials dating back to 2012, emphasizing cultural reactions to the HIV/AIDS epidemic from the 1980s, particularly in Spain and Chile, with additional inputs from Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala. The archive prioritized intimacy rather than strict organization. Notable pieces featured Rafael França's farewell video, Diego del Pozo's tactile installation, and performances that engaged various communities. The exhibition was categorized into 'Animal', 'Death', and 'Health', showcasing themes of bodily connections and collective grief, including Pepe Espaliú's 1992 performance Carrying and SIDA DA by Las Pekinesas.