A new mural has been installed in Cork to celebrate people living with HIV. The striking design was commissioned by the Sexual Health Centre and created by Shane O’Driscoll and Peter Martin of Ardú, the city’s contemporary street art project.

Located on Drinan Street at Sullivans Quay, the mural depicts two hands reaching towards each other entwined in a red ribbon. This creates a powerful visual statement of connection, solidarity, hope and community.

The red ribbon is synonymous with HIV activism and awareness, introduced by the New York-based Visual AIDS Artists Caucus in 1991. By having it displayed prominently in a public setting, the mural aims to celebrate those living with HIV while also helping to challenge stigma and outdated perceptions.

The Sexual Health Centre has a long history of supporting those with HIV, having first provided services in 1987 as Cork AIDS Alliance. Speaking about the new mural, Chief Executive Fiona Finn described it as “a celebration of people living with HIV and of the strength, resilience, connection and community that exists around them.”

Finn, who recently won the Ally award at The GALAS, added, “We wanted to create something visible and positive in the heart of Cork city that reflects how far we have come.”

She noted that since the ‘80s, there have been “enormous changes in HIV treatment”, and today, those on effective medication have “the same life expectancy as anyone else and cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners”.

Finn concluded, “Art has an incredible ability to start conversations and to change how we see the world around us. We hope this mural will be a joyful and visible celebration of people living with HIV.”

Sharing insights into the process, artist Shane O’Driscoll said, “Having held a workshop with the community in the SHC, we gained a deeper understanding of people living with HIV and what themes, imagery and messaging to use within the creation of the artwork. It was very much a collaboration with those that provided insights and knowledge to myself and Peter and we hope it’s positive message is felt throughout the city and beyond.”

The new mural in Cork comes following the release of the Sexual Health Centre’s short film My Day Is The Same As Yours, which highlights the reality of living with HIV.

“We are conscious that many of the representations of people living with HIV tend to be rooted in the past, when a HIV diagnosis was life limiting,” Finn said. “This is no longer the case and we are focused on showing that these days, people not only live with but thrive with HIV. People living with HIV are living full, ordinary and extraordinary lives and HIV does not define a person.”