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Gideon Mendel The Ward /anglais
In 1993, Gideon Mendel spent a number of weeks photographing the Broderip and Charles Bell wards in London s Middlesex Hospital. The Broderip was the first AIDS ward in London and was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales in 1987. This was the era before antiretroviral medications had become available, a very distinct and tragic time. All of the patients on the wards, many of whom were young, gay men, were having to face the terrifying prospect of an early and painful death. During his time at the hospital Gideon followed the stories of four patients in particular - John, Steven, Ian and Andre. These two wards at The Middlesex Hospital were some of the few dedicated AIDS wards that existed in London, and even more unusual for their decision to open themselves to being photographed. Considering the high levels of stigma and fear that existed at the time, the decision of these four patients to allow themselves, alongside their families, lovers and friends to be photographed was an act of considerable bravery. During his time at the hospital, he photographed their treatment and many other aspects of ward life, including the intimate way in which the staff, patients and their families related to one another. Treatment was not a passive process, but rather an active engagement on the part of the patients, who were often extremely knowledgeable about their condition. The staff too became far more attached to their patients than was commonplace in hospitals at the time. All of the patients in these photographs died soon after the pictures were taken. They were the unlucky ones, who became sick just before treatment became available. The Ward poignantly reminds us of a different time, how it felt to live with HIV when it was considered a veritable death sentence, and how the wards at the Middlesex Hospital became unique and special places full of love.
- GenresPhotography
88 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 25, 2023
agonising and achingly loving
January 9, 2019
Beautiful collection of photographs.
At first glance it can be quite annoying to see all of these photographs with no caption attached, but when you read the introduction by Mendel it makes total sense why he chose to omit information about the subjects of the photographs.
The placement of passages of loved ones and staff from the ward is a bit odd as they seem to be on random pages. Instead of at the beginning of the book to go with the introduction, or at the end of the book, or even close to the relevant photographs, they are just randomly placed. Again if the intention was to keep up the anonymity of the patients, even after the book being published in 2017, some of the passages mention the photographs and the names of the patients within them, so that then makes me question, if the anonymity is no longer considered necessary by Mendel, then why design the pages the way they were? Was it to keep in line with the original intentions of the 1990s or so the reader focuses more on the photos and humanity behind them? If that was the intention then he was successful.
It would be nice if there were captions to go with the photos, maybe interviews by the patients that were photographed, after all they would give real insight into what it was like to be a patient suffering from HIV/AIDS just before the introduction of effective treatment. But then again we must remember those were different times when there was so much stigma and hostility so it's no surprise that people did not want to talk about their illness at the time.
Update: I found the original book these photos were taken for they have captions. So why the 2017 version doesn't I do not know.
At first glance it can be quite annoying to see all of these photographs with no caption attached, but when you read the introduction by Mendel it makes total sense why he chose to omit information about the subjects of the photographs.
The placement of passages of loved ones and staff from the ward is a bit odd as they seem to be on random pages. Instead of at the beginning of the book to go with the introduction, or at the end of the book, or even close to the relevant photographs, they are just randomly placed. Again if the intention was to keep up the anonymity of the patients, even after the book being published in 2017, some of the passages mention the photographs and the names of the patients within them, so that then makes me question, if the anonymity is no longer considered necessary by Mendel, then why design the pages the way they were? Was it to keep in line with the original intentions of the 1990s or so the reader focuses more on the photos and humanity behind them? If that was the intention then he was successful.
It would be nice if there were captions to go with the photos, maybe interviews by the patients that were photographed, after all they would give real insight into what it was like to be a patient suffering from HIV/AIDS just before the introduction of effective treatment. But then again we must remember those were different times when there was so much stigma and hostility so it's no surprise that people did not want to talk about their illness at the time.
Update: I found the original book these photos were taken for they have captions. So why the 2017 version doesn't I do not know.
August 30, 2026
A beautiful, powerful, gut-wrenching blend of photography and recollections from nurses, doctors, family, partners, and friends of the patients on Broderip Ward, Middlesex Hospital. Although there’s still a lot of work to do destigmatising HIV, reading this book made me so grateful for the massive steps medicine has taken forward in the treatment of HIV. The descriptions of the supportive, loving atmosphere everyone managed to cultivate on Broderip Ward were really moving.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews