by Meg Brew, AWC Amsterdam
Between CSW sessions, I enjoyed walking through the UN corridors seeing great artworks on display. The UN is home to hundreds of pieces of art donated by member states, foundations and individuals since 1950.
Beginning at the UN Plaza, you encounter sculptures on display. You immediately see and feel the impact of Non-Violence by Carl Fredrick Reuterwärd, commonly known as The Knotted Gun. The bronze sculpture depicts a Colt Python 357 magnum revolver with the barrel tied in a knot. Gifted by Luxembourg in 1988, “with Non-Violence, Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd has not only endowed the UN with a cherished work of art; he has enriched the consciousness of humanity with a powerful symbol. It is a symbol that encapsulates, in a few simple curves, the greatest prayer of man: that which asks not for victory, but for peace.”
In 1996, Sphere Within Sphere by sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro was presented as a gift to the UN by Lamberto Dini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy. This sculpture is a major focal point in the plaza. We all stopped for a photo in front of this sphere!
Further along, you can walk around the Ark of Return by Rodney Leon, a permanent memorial to honor the enslaved persons who were victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
After coming through the main lobby, look to the right for the famous stained-glass window entitled Peace, which in 1964, UN staff members and Marc Chagall himself donated to commemorate Dag Hammarskjöld, who had served as UN Secretary-General from 1953 to 1961. Chagall’s stained-glass memorial contains numerous symbols representing themes of love and peace. Chagall said about this piece “With all my soul, I wanted to convey the extent of my inspiration and the inspiration of Dag Hammarskjöld and of all those who died for peace. For this was the very purpose for which the UN was founded. (...) I should like people to be as moved as I was when I was engaged in this work which was done for people of all countries, in the name of peace and love. The main thing is not to see it but to feel it.”
Near the General Assembly is the Foucault Pendulum, which gives visual proof of the rotation of the earth, as the French physicist Jean Foucault demonstrated (1851). The sphere takes approximately 36 hours and 45 minutes to complete a cycle. A gift from the Netherlands; on the steel shaft supporting the pendulum is a message from Queen Juliana (1909–2004), “It is a privilege to live today and tomorrow.”
A pair of Fernand Léger abstract decorative murals are the decoration in the General Assembly Hall (1952). The east wall mural was named Scrambled Eggs and the west wall Bugs Bunny by American President Harry Truman. I was able to see these large, impressive murals while attending the opening sessions.
Also in the General Assembly building is my favorite painting: Lumen Martin Winter’s Titans, depicting five giants, symbolizing the five continents, moving the world from darkness to light. To commemorate the first World Youth Assembly, the UN commissioned this painting (1971). The World Youth Assembly was described as paving “the way for a better understanding among youth designed to contribute to efforts for bringing about peace, justice and progress in the world.” Winter painted in dots and dashes to evoke a TV screen and used a bright palette to convey an optimistic vision. The painting glows and shimmers!
Upstairs, on the third floor, you see the Zanetti mural, donated by the Guggenheim Foundation, depicting Mankind’s Struggle for Lasting Peace, as well as a more well-known Norman Rockwell mosaic symbolizing The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In 1985, First Lady Nancy Reagan presented this Rockwell mosaic to celebrate the UN’s 40th anniversary. Venetian artists created the mural—depicting people of all races, colors, creeds and religions.
You can spend hours reading all the beautiful Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) graphics near the ECOSOC Chambers. Each printed graphic illustrates one of the fundamental human rights, to be universally protected. The UDHR is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives from all regions of the world, the UDHR was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly (1948) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations.
In addition to the permanent collection, there were many temporary exhibits. I was glad to see Turning The Page On Change: Children’s Books Inspiring Action for the Global Goals, displaying illustrated award-winning books from authors around the world, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN art collections do not focus on certain time periods or regions, rather, they are shown together regardless of time period or geography. Instead, the thing that ties the art together is the fundamental idea that, according to the UN: “Within the UN, art does not exist only for its aesthetic values. It also serves one of the Organization’s major goals, the promotion of the unity of humankind in all its cultural diversity.”
There are many more pieces to review—too many for this brief blog. I would love to show you all my photos! Next time you visit NYC, I recommend taking a guided tour through the UN.
References:
https://www.amun.org/the-united-nations-art-collection/
https://share.america.gov/art-at-un-headquarters-reflects-peace-mission/