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I sometimes jokingly say that I started Luv ’til it Hurts for Elton John. Well, it’s true. I was going through a particularly hard time last year, feeling sorry for myself due to a series of ‘roadblocks’– personally, professionally, creatively … existentially. I had the chance to make a new work (as one had just finished) and happened to read Activism Changed Elton John. Then Elton John Changed the World (The Advocate) and Elton John and Darren Walker on Race, Sexual Identity and Leaving the Past Behind (NYT). Both articles discuss the turning point(s) that had Sir Elton John devote his enormous prestige and energy to making and sustaining the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Given that this all happened at once—reading these articles and starting Luv ’til it Hurts–and given that LUV is an idea with a ‘business plan’ for engaging artists around HIV ever since it first tickled my imagination, proceeds and systems resulting from the overall project, with its two-year focus in three acts, are dedicated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 

GAME

The LUV game came from a series of encounters, talking to people living with HIV around the world about stigma. Conversations are always easy to start, but everyone seemed to agree that we need to keep talking. The LUV game is played like Exquisite Corpse; it’s easy to add another player; and helps get people talking in a variety of settings. 

Luciérnagas is a participatory six-month arts lab, set up by artist Daniel Santiago, focused on HIV Stigma and Venezuelan migration. He expects a group of 15 people who will participate in talks and workshops every two weeks for an entire semester. He will propose to them to collaborate on a final live performance, based on how fireflies produce lights in the darkness for flirting and communicate with others. The preparation for this performance (body, tech and concept) will be part of the second half of the lab. The contents will be offered by different artists and organizations invited by the artist. This project is made under his one-year art residency at FLORA, Bogotá.

The ANKH (Arab Network for Knowledge on Human rights) association helps and supports the rights of minority groups, specifically LGBTQI and people living with HIV, in the Euromediterranean region.

The Know More Campaign is an initiative of the association**.** It is a health campaign to improve awareness about sexually transmitted diseases by providing diverse information in the Arabic language from reliable sources, without stigmatizing individuals on the basis of gender, religion, ethnic background, color, or sexual orientation. HIV is one of the main themes of the campaign.

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Questions. So many questions. The LUV project is designed to provoke questions. One question we luv to answer is ‘how to get involved?’

How can I participate?

• LUV is making a business plan for unearthing HIV-related stigmas. The plan takes two years to birth. LUV needs help with this and it usually requires multiple discussions. Please contact us.

• LUV invites folks working on HIV to say (or show) what’s on their minds and/or how they do their work locally. For this we invite you to publish field notes or other features on the LUV site. Again, please contact us.

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E&H LAB is the host agency of the CHAOS project. CHAOS is an awareness campaign created by Deza Nguembock, to unveil the taboo that exists over the complex issue of mental health. To break with social isolation, create a space of fulfillment and liberties; and facilitate the professional inclusion of the people concerned. E&H LAB’s mission is to contribute in building a more inclusive society, of individual and collective well-being. The CHAOS campaign uses artistic installations, videos, and other mediums to tackle the subject of mental health.