Nelson Mandela once said “Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” This is the heartbeat of Stories of Hope, an initiative launched in 2021 and dedicated to all courageous Heroes of Hope sharing their talent to break HIV stigma and discrimination.
In a world where silence fuels stigma, many Heroes of Hope choose art as their megaphone. They step into the spotlight not for fame, but to give a voice to those muted by shame and discrimination. Through dance, photography, poetry, painting, and performance, they transform their lived experience into expressions that resonate, agitate, and heal.
It is therefore with great honor that today, on Mandely Day 2025, we proudly share the portrait of a great friend and talent Adriana Bertini, a Brazilian artist and activist renowned for her decades long HIV activism through provocative art. Through her art she is able to build experiences and capture what matters in our HIV community, showing her commitment to fight HIV stigma. Read Adriana’s story here.
In many places in the world, where people living with HIV face stigma and discrimination, Heroes of Hope use their creativity to humanize the realities of people living with HIV. Art such as Adriana’s couture art contributes to creating safe spaces in our HIV community where dignity is restored and fear of stigma is replaced with connection.
So today, let’s express ourselves as if everyone is listening! Let’s admire the provocative works of Adriana, whose art has long defied HIV stigma, and honour a vision where expression becomes activism and art becomes hope. This is Mandela Day, Adriana’s way.
Happy Mandela Day! Peace,
Eliane
HIV stigmafighter 