Act Up ; Ignorance ; Fear 1989

This print was made in 1989 by Keith Haring, during the height of the AIDS crisis. We see three figures, each embodying a tragic refusal: to see, to speak, to hear. These are stark symbols of denial, reminiscent of the proverbial three wise monkeys, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." But these figures bear pink crosses on their torsos, marking them as victims, silenced by the ignorance and fear surrounding AIDS. Think back to medieval depictions of the plague, where similar crosses marked homes and individuals, stigmatizing the afflicted. Haring ingeniously merges ancient motifs of avoidance with a contemporary symbol of condemnation, revealing a timeless human tendency to ostracize and ignore uncomfortable truths. This image is not just about AIDS; it is a potent reminder of how fear and ignorance can condemn us all to silence and death.