The Ward - Gideon Mendel

This morning, I received my second edition copy of Gideon Mendel's The Ward. The book, which was published in 2017, is a collection of photographs that Mendel took at Middlesex hospital Broderip and Charles Bell AIDS wards in the early 1990s. Mendels photos capture patients' everyday lives and struggles.

The Ward offers a rare and personal look into the lives of individuals impacted by the AIDS pandemic at a period when the disease was still stigmatized and little was known about it. Mendel's images are both beautiful and visceral, portraying the sufferers' fragility and perseverance. The visuals are deeply moving and emotional, reflecting the human experience of living with AIDS in a poignant and evocative manner.

One of the most striking aspects of The Ward is Mendel's ability to capture his subjects' humanity. Mendel's images depict the patients as they actually were: multifaceted, genuine individuals confronting difficult circumstances with grace and dignity, at a time when many people with AIDS were still shunned and vilified. He depicted people who were frequently excluded and stigmatized. He provided them an opportunity to be seen, acknowledged, and recognized, and his photographs are among the few we have in the history of victims at the time.

The Ward also serves as a strong reminder of the accomplishments made in the fight against AIDS. The images in the book were taken at a time when little was understood about the condition and few effective therapies were available, and they stand in sharp contrast to the improvements in treatment and knowledge that have transpired in the years since.

The powerful photographs filled me with a mix of emotions. I saw the young men filled with courage despite suffering from a disease which very little was known about and the medical staff we did everything they could to save these young lives and in many cases provide a safe space for them to feel loved and supported in their final days. Despite the sadness, humanity and compassion radiated through the pages, filling my heart with hope.