Scent stories: Hong Kong art exhibition destigmatises, humanises living with HIV through personal fragrances

2026-01-25 - 21:07

Wing – a Hongkonger in his 60s – has been living with HIV for 18 years. One of his greatest regrets is not having been able to share his condition with his parents, who passed away about a decade ago. Everything in his home, from the television to the sofa, reminds him of days spent with them. The scent of mothballs – used by his mother to deodorise the house and absorb moisture – is imprinted in his mind. This scent has become the key to unlocking Wing’s memories of his parents. An artwork displayed at “Emanate,” an exhibition organised by AIDS Concern, on December 3, 2025, featuring an HIV drug prescription note. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Late last year, Wing – who asked to use a pseudonym for privacy reasons – re-created this special scent at “Emanate,” an art exhibition organised by the NGO AIDS Concern at Wyndham Social, a cultural space in Central. He and 14 others – including patients, carers, and healthcare workers – collaborated with scent designers at slash & parallel to develop fragrances reflecting their personal histories. Participants brought small objects related to their experiences and moulded them into large aroma stones made of cement and resin, which diffused the scents. Their works were showcased between late November and early December, alongside a sculpture made of soap bars by artist Trevor Yeung, an installation by Hong Kong-born Indian-Filipino artist Sharu Sikdar, and a prose piece by poet Lut Ming printed on large-scale veils. Some participants included a doctor’s notes and a prescription for HIV medication in their aroma stones. Wing said he wanted his aroma stone to evoke a “dream-like environment.” His piece featured a white porcelain bird, envisioned as a bridge connecting him to his late parents, whom he still yearns to see every day, even though they passed away years ago. Wing’s artwork is displayed at “Emanate,” an exhibition organised by AIDS Concern, on December 3, 2025. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. The scent he created begins with notes of bergamot, cinnamon, and lemon, followed by apple, eucalyptus, and saffron, with juniper, palo santo, and sandalwood lingering as the base. “As for this fragrance, it carries a feeling of reluctance to let go [and] a longing to hold on,” Wing wrote in the description of his work. Stigma around AIDS Artist Wong Ka-ying, who curated the exhibition, told HKFP that she chose scent as the primary medium because it symbolises the “pervasive” stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. Many stereotypes – and even instances of discrimination against people living with HIV – have existed in Hong Kong society for a long time, she said. Jerome Yau, chief executive of AIDS Concern, said the exhibition was part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to destigmatise HIV and AIDS in Hong Kong, where the first case was reported in 1984. Wong Ka-ying, curator of the “Emanate” exhibition organised by AIDS Concern. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Although more than 40 years have passed, Yau said, the stigma persists. Many still exclusively associate HIV with specific groups – particularly gay men – fuelling negative sentiment and hindering prevention. This misconception often leads individuals to believe they do not belong to a “high-risk group,” even when they may be at risk, Yau said. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) stated that as of June last year, it had received a cumulative total of 12,583 reports of HIV infection and 2,604 AIDS cases since records began in 1984 and 1985, respectively. The CHP noted at the time that there was a “high proportion of late presentation,” and urged the public to undergo HIV antibody testing and to use condoms regularly and correctly to minimise infection risks. Jerome Yau, chief executive of AIDS Concern, at the “Emanate” exhibition on December 3, 2025. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. By inviting those living with HIV to share their journeys through fragrances – which Yau described as a medium for recording and preserving memories – AIDS Concern tried to empower these individuals to “own their narrative.” This initiative sought to shift public perception of those living with the chronic condition, he said. “It is not only about empowerment, but also about reframing the issue and turning it into stories of resilience. It is no longer just about survival; it is about thriving,” Yau said. The burden of secrecy In his interview with HKFP, Wing recalled why he was reluctant to tell his parents the truth about his health. He explained that his cousin had been infected with HIV in mainland China years ago, and his mother had remarked at the time that she could never “forgive” her niece. An artwork displayed at “Emanate,” an exhibition organised by AIDS Concern, on December 3, 2025. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Consequently, when Wing tested positive in late 2007 and began taking medication in early 2008, he decided he would do everything in his power to keep it a secret. On one occasion, Wing developed a high fever and knew he needed medical attention. However, he was terrified of going to the emergency room, fearing the hospital would admit him overnight because of his HIV infection. He eventually went to a clinic and begged the medical staff for an injection to bring down his fever, but he withheld all information regarding his chronic condition. A fragrance displayed at “Emanate,” an exhibition organised by AIDS Concern, on December 3, 2025. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. “I did not want them to be worried about me. [Telling my parents] would not change my medical condition anyway, so I decided not to say anything,” Wing said in Cantonese, adding that only a handful of close friends are aware of his condition. ‘Humanise’ the issue To combat stigma in Hong Kong, Yau said, a comprehensive sex education framework is needed to provide age-appropriate information to young people. It is “not good” that sex remains a taboo subject in the city, he said. With significant advances in medicine, HIV infection and AIDS are no longer a “death sentence,” he added. Individuals living with HIV who take medicine and visit their doctors regularly can live a life as good as their peers who are not affected by the virus. Both Yau and curator Wong described the art exhibition as an effort to resonate with the public and “humanise” the issues of HIV and AIDS through personal stories and artwork. An artwork displayed at “Emanate,” an exhibition organised by AIDS Concern, on December 3, 2025, featuring a doctor’s note. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP. Attendees might first be drawn to the scents and artworks before learning about the underlying issues. Such events may prove more effective than traditional, straightforward advocacy campaigns, they said. “Attendees tend to be less reluctant to learn about the issue, or they leave with a stronger impression,” Wong said. “They may think about this exhibition the next time they see AIDS-related issues, and they would know it’s not such a hard topic to approach.”