Benetton Pieta in AIDS campaign
United Colors of Benetton ventured into controversial territory in 1991 with the publication of “Pieta”, a photographic expose of the reality of AIDS.
The photo of AIDS activist David Kirby was taken in his room in the Ohio State University Hospital in May 1990, with his father, sister and niece at his bedside. The photo was taken by Therese Frare. Frare included the black and white photograph in a photographic documentary on the lives of clients and caregivers in a hospice for people with AIDS. The photograph was included in LIFE magazine in November 1990, and went on to win the 1991 World Press Photo Award.
Tibor Kalman, working with Oliviero Toscani, was preparing a consciousness-raising campaign associated with Benetton products and culture. He saw the Frare photograph in Life Magazine and suggested that Benetton include it in their advertising campaign. Benetton approached the photographer and Kirby family, gaining consent for the use of the photograph and contributing to an AIDS foundation. When considering whether to stay with black and white or go with color the creative team decided that it needed to look like an advertisement, raising the shock value.
The ‘Pieta’ ad certainly had an effect.
On one hand the advertisement won the European Art Director Club award for the best 1991 campaign and the Houston International Center of Photography’s Infinity Award. The print was exhibited in American, French, Italian, Swiss and German museums. In 2003 the photo was included in the Life magazine collection ‘100 Photos that changed the world’.
There were many negative reactions however. A number of AIDS activists believed that the photograph and its use in advertising actually painted AIDS victims in a negative light, spreading fear rather than acceptance. Others perceived the campaign as a vindication of homosexuality. For some there was sensitivity about the implied connection between the deaths of David Kirby and Jesus.
David’s parents, Bill and Kay, took part in the press conference called by Benetton in the New York Public Library and while the world’s opinion of this image remained split between accusations of cynicism and approval, and many magazines had already refused to print it, David’s mother said: “We don’t feel we’ve been used by Benetton, but rather the reverse: David is speaking much louder now that he’s dead, than he did when he was alive.”
According to Benetton, “In some countries such as Paraguay this was the very first campaign to talk about AIDS, and in many countries it was the first campaign to go beyond purely preventative measures and touch upon subjects such as solidarity with AIDS patients.”
Toscani said, “I called the picture of David Kirby and his family “La Pieta” because it is a Pieta which is real. The Michelangelo’s Pieta during the Renaissance might be fake, Jesus Christ may never have existed. But we know this death happened. This is the real thing.”
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(4.92 out of 5)
I don’t remember where I first saw the ad or when but I can say it broke my heart and continues to tug at me even now. Michelangelo’s Pieta, The Pieta of AIDS and The Pieta of 9-11 have a profound effect on me.
This is the first time that I came accross the photo of David Kirby although it was taken back in 1990.All I can say is that it has changed my life. The expresions on all the phases on the photo are shocking.We must all do whatever we can to fight against AIDS.
I’ve been looking at advertisement for a exam in the mass media and stumbled across this advert. Now, I can see how it is an effective
photograph for how much we should research and exterminate AIDS and HIV, but I am confused about how this is an advertisement for a clothing brand. In my opinion this says two things:
1) Toscani was looking for a platform on which to launch his work, saw that Benneton were looking for an advertisement campaign and saw his chance.
2) Benneton at the time were lagging behind in the market and becoming a ‘dull brand’ and almost fading into the background. Therefore they needed something to make them distinctive, and when Toscani approached them saw THEIR chance.
In no way am I insulting the picture, its participants or people it has affected. I just feel that this is an innapropriate canvas for shocking, thought-provoking work to be displayed on.
I don’t understand why a touching sad photo like this should be used as an advertisement. Shame on these people. I’m sorry because my last name is Toscani like the famous benetton photographer
yo mama