Explore the Quilt

in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture

The collection of UK AIDS Quilts were made between 1989 and 1996 to commemorate friends, lovers and family members who passed away from an AIDS related illness during this time. These individual panels were never sewn into quilts and often refer to a single person or message. You can zoom in to some of the specific details listed below.

A blue and yellow seascape design with two boats on the blue sea.

Across the scene are stitched lines of blank verse and poetry. The top line rides: ‘When we first travelled to London, we stopped in Hong Kong, then Gatwick airport. The weather was cold and I was surprised because Manila was so hot. I thought I wouldn’t stay long in London, but I am still here’.