The AIDS Network of Edmonton
Canada, 1990s
This poster bears an image of one of the most
recognisable symbols relating to HIV and AIDS: the red ribbon. Worn
as a simple strip of red silk or as an enamel badge, the ribbon is
a symbol of awareness, solidarity and support for those with the
disease.
The red ribbon was created in 1991 by the
Visual AIDS Artists Caucus. No individual was credited as its
creator, and it is maintained free of copyright of trademark
registrations to encourage as widespread use as possible. Like many
symbols associated with HIV and AIDS, the ribbon too has deeper
roots: wearing a yellow ribbon as a mark of remembrance is a
tradition associated with women awaiting the return of a beloved.
The popularity of the red ribbon spawned the use of ribbons in many
different colours representing different awareness campaigns, in
particular the pink ribbon associated with breast cancer.