Frankie O'Reilly and Georgie Long, childhood friends and later partners, faced the tragedy of losing each other to HIV/Aids. Diagnosed in 1985, they witnessed the deaths of many peers. After Georgie's death in 1992, Frankie joined the UK Aids Memorial Quilt project, reflecting on love, loss, and resilience. Displayed at Tate Modern in June 2023, the quilt represents nearly 400 people lost to the disease and embodies the enduring memories of those who loved them. Frankie describes the quilt project as a crucial step in processing his grief, highlighting the bravery of those lost.
"I started seeing friends slowly dying. It was like being at a bus stop with your friends and they start getting on buses, and then you're the last person at the stop."
"Helping to create the quilt helped me through the worst of my grief. It's a reminder of the bravest and most beautiful people I knew."
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