FEATURE: UN poster contest paints picture of hope for a nuclear-free world
The winning artists in an international competition to commemorate the very first United Nations General Assembly resolution, which established the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction, are advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons. The first and last time these weapons were used was decades before the artists were born
.
“Young people did not create nuclear weapons, but it may be their task to eliminate them once and for all,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the award ceremony on 3 May at the UN Headquarters in New York.
“At a time of many global needs, it is important that young people are aware of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, and the vital importance of disarmament,” he stressed, adding that he was pleased to see at the number of young people represented in the competition.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) and partners launched the UN Poster for Peace contest to raise awareness of the need for nuclear disarmament by inspiring citizens globally to use their artistic talents to promote a world free of nuclear weapons.
It commemorates the anniversary of a resolution adopted in 1946 establishing a Commission to deal with problems related to the discovery of atomic energy.
UN Poster for Peace Contest
Ivan Ciro Palomino Huamani
from Lima, Peru.
UN Poster for Peace Contest - First place
UN Poster for Peace Contest
Michelle Minzhi Li
from San Ramon, CA, United States.
UN Poster for Peace Contest - Second place
UN Poster for Peace Contest
Anjali Chandrashekar from
New York, United States. UN Poster for Peace Contest - Third place
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Nadia Anthouli from Greece received an honourable mention for her poster entitled "Who is the Bird Now?"
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Sylwia Kuran from the United Kingdom received an honourable mention for her poster entitled "Bomb of Peace."
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Jorge Malo from Spain received an honourable mention for his poster entitled "The Red Beak. "
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Lijang Sun from China received an honourable mention for his poster entitled "Love Peace No."
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Jixin Wang from China received an honourable mention for his poster entitled "War and Peace."
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Kazem Bokaei from Iran received an honourable mention for his poster entitled "Change for Peace."
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Anjali Chandrashekar from the US received an honourable mention for her poster entitled "Break Free."
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Roberto Losada Maestre from Spain received an honourable mention for his poster entitled "Clear Nuclear Weapons from the World."
UN Poster for Peace Contest Winner Honourable Mention
Kumi Nakazato from Japan received an honourable mention for her poster entitled "Must Be Zero."
Three winners and nine honorable mentions were chosen from among more than 4,100 entries representing 123 countries.
First prize winner Ivan Ciro Palomino Huamani flew in from Lima, Peru, to accept the accolades for his “Spinning Peace.” It features a nuclear weapon being unraveled into string which is then used to fly kites and balloons, and to jump rope.
The 38-year-old said he wanted his image to motivate people “to conscientiously think of how we can save our planet. After all it is our home, it is where we live. ”
Second place winner, Michelle Li, began her quest to better the world at age five. The now 15-year-old said she started creating art that ranged in focus from global warming to world peace.
Her poster, “Peace in our Hands” features a shadow puppet of a peace dove above a broken nuclear weapon.
The winner of the third place, Anjali Chandrashekar, entitled her work “Cutting Barriers through Peace.” It features a peace dove slicing through a nuclear weapon. The 22-year-old was only 10 when she founded “Picture It,” a non-governmental organization that uses imagery to raise awareness and funds for various health, humanitarian and environmental causes.
“Nuclear disarmament is usually spoken about on such a high level and I believe that art has the power to humanize some of the most pressing issues that the world faces today,” she told the UN News Centre. “It also transcends barriers of age, language and literacy so I thought this was a great opportunity for me to show that a brush can be mightier than arms.”
The awards night included remarks by actor Michael Douglas, who is a UN Messenger of Peace helping to focus worldwide attention on the work of the United Nations. He told the audience that “creativity is essential” to create momentum for nuclear disarmament.
All of the winning artwork will be used to support the United Nations message on the importance of disarmament and will be presented in various platforms including exhibits, banners, postcards and calendars, according to the Chief of ODA’s Information Outreach Branch, John Ennis.
The contest was organized in partnership with the Office of the President of the UN General Assembly, the UN Foundation, the World Federation of the UN and UN Academic Impact.