United Nations Art Collection
The United Nations Art Collection is a collective group of artworks and historic objects donated as gifts to the United Nations by its member states, associations, or individuals. These artistic treasures and possessions, mostly in the form of “sculptures, paintings, tapestries and mosaics”, are representative “arts of nations” that are contained and exhibited within the confines of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States, and other duty stations, making the UN and its international territories a "fine small museum".[1][2]
Member states follow a protocol for presenting official gifts to the United Nations. Procedures, speeches, and ceremonies, such as the unveiling of these gifts, are conducted and coordinated by the Protocol and Liaison Service. Ideally, every member nation can only present one offering, and member nations are responsible for the installation of the offered artifacts.[2][3][4]
The official gifts to the United Nations by its member states epitomize the ideals, significance and values of the UN as an international organization.[5]
Collection
- In 1964, a 15 foot by 12 foot stained glass window by Marc Chagall entitled Peace was donated to the United Nations by its own staff members and by Chagall himself to commemorate Dag Hammarskjöld, who served as United Nations Secretary-General from 1953 until his death in 1961.[6] The stained glass memorial contains numerous symbols representing love and peace themes.[7]
- In 1952, a pair of Fernand Léger murals was installed in the General Assembly Hall.[8]
- The United Nations Security Council mural, by Per Krohg, was also installed in 1952
- War and Peace, two paintings by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari. It does not feature any weapons, but instead features the suffering of victims from war, which illustrates the barbarity of combat. The contrast between the elements of chaos and harmony show how important it is to maintain peace and attempt to end violent conflicts.
- In 1985, as a representative of the United States, then first lady Nancy Reagan presented a mosaic to the United Nations to celebrate the organization's 40th anniversary. The Golden Rule mosaic was a creation of Venetian artists and was based on a painting by Norman Rockwell. Depicting people of all races, religion, creed and hue, the mosaic imparts the message to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".[9]
- The Japanese Peace Bell was presented to the United Nations in June 1954 by the United Nations Association of Japan. It was cast from coins collected by people from 60 different countries including children, and housed in a structure resembling a Shinto shrine, made of cypress wood. The bell is rung twice a year: on the first day of Spring, at the Vernal Equinox, and on 21 September to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.[10]
- In 1959, a bronze statue promoting the slogan Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares was donated by the Soviet Union to the United Nations. It was sculpted by Evgeniy Vuchetich to represent the human wish to end all wars by converting the weapons of death and destruction into peaceful and productive tools that are more beneficial to mankind.[11]
- In 1966 a copy of the Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu's sculpture Anyanwu was presented to the United Nations by the permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Chief Simeon Adebo, to Secretary-General U Thant. It is a representation of the Igbo mythological figure and earth goddess Ani.[12] It is cast from bronze and is 6 ft in height.[12]
- 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.[13]
- A life-size tapestry copy of Pablo Picasso's 1937 painting, Guernica, by Jacqueline de la Baume Dürrbach, is displayed on the wall of the United Nations building in New York City, at the entrance to the Security Council room.[14][15]
- Single Form is a sculpture done by Barbara Hepworth in 1964 as a memorial to the UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld after his death in an air crash in Africa in 1961. It was donated to the UN by the Jacob Blaustein Foundation.[16]
-
-
Dove of Peace, presented by Pope John Paul II, on the occasion of his visit to the United Nations, 2 October 1979 -
The Japanese Peace Bell, 1954 -
Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares by Yevgeny Vuchetich, 1959. -
-
Non-Violence, 1985 sculpture by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd
Conservation and maintenance
The main entity responsible for the conservation of the collection is the UN Arts Committee.[2] The United Nations is assisted, through a special mandate and regulations, by fundraising groups such as the Maecenas World Patrimony Foundation in this endeavor of preserving these artistic and international heritages.[17] However, about 50 gifts, partly close to dissolution, are stored in the basement; and in some cases, have been so for decades.[18]
See also
References
- ^ Frommer's Review: United Nations, New York City Attractions, New York City, Travel Guides, NYTimes.com, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
- ^ a b c Marks, Edward B. Art... At Home in the United Nations, UN Chronicle United Nations Publications (1998), Gale Group (2004) and FindArticles.com, Winter 1998, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
- ^ Presentation of Malaysia's Gift to the United Nations, Speech by Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, New York, September 25, 2003, PMO.gov Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
- ^ The Director-General, Protocol and Liaison Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, UNOG.ch (undated), retrieved on: August 2, 2007
- ^ Moore, Lawri Lala. Moorings: The World of United Nations Peoples, Disarmament Exhibit Steals Centre Stage, UN.org, 2002, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
- ^ Garten, UN Photo/Mark (24 October 2005). "Chagall Peace Window Dedication Ceremony". www.unmultimedia.org. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ Chagall Stained-Glass, United Nations Cyber School Bus, United Nations, UN.org, 2001 Archived April 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 4, 2007
- ^ An 'element of inspiration and calm' at UN Headquarters - art in the life of the United Nations Retrieved October 13, 2010
- ^ Norman Rockwell Mosaic, United Nations Cyber School Bus, United Nations, UN.org, 2001 Archived March 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on: August 4, 2007
- ^ "Japanese Peace Bell". United Nations Cyberschoolbus. New York: United Nations. 2001. Archived from the original on 2010-07-10. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "Nigerian Sculpture at United Nations Headquarters". United Nations. Archived from the original on 2018-01-28. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Art and Architecture at the UN". Retrieved 9 August 2010.
- ^ "In praise of ... Guernica". The Guardian. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
- ^ David Cohen, Hidden Treasures: What's so controversial about Picasso's Guernica?, Slate.com Retrieved October 17, 2010
- ^ "Single Form (In Memory of Dag Hammarskjöld)". United Nations. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Maecenas World Patrimony Foundation Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, CelestialSphere.ch, 2005, retrieved on: August 2, 2007
- ^ Frithjof Ehm, "Art of the World. The Art Collection of the United Nations" Archived 2011-01-02 at the Wayback Machine, in: Prague Leaders Magazine N° 1/2010, p. 77-79.
External links
