Enlightened Universe, Celebrates the United Nations 70th Anniversary in Central Park, NY & Geneva.

ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary

© Cristóbal Gabarrón © United Nations © The Gabarron Foundation Photos © Corrado Serra © Jordi Serqueda © Luiz Rampelotto © Enrique Martinez Bueso © Carlos Garcia

INDEX BRIEF INTRODUCTION

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ABOUT THE ART WORK

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by Donald Kuspit The sphere The human chain The momument rests on reflection The concept Cause-effect, messages, objectives Technical specifications 1945-1955 Human chain figures 1955-1965 Human chain figures 1965-1975 Human chain figures 1975-1985 Human chain figures 1985-1995 Human chain figures 1995-2005 Human chain figures 2005-2015 Human chain figures Original sketches

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Central Park · New York Rotonde du Mont Blanc · Geneve

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Links

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ABOUT THE ARTIST Selected exhibitions Selected works for United Nations

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BRIEF INTRODUCTION

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The installation, titled Enlightened Universe, is an interactive sculpture depicting 70 life-size figures joined in hand around a central globe, creating a human chain of global citizenship, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility. It was originally created to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations, that was unveiled in October 24, 2015 at Central Park, New York by UN Secretary-General, Ban Kimoon.

The monument is an interactive sculpture created by renowned artist Cristobal Gabarron formed by a sphere and surrounded by a spiral of 70 figures - one for each of the 70 years since the UN was created.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made opening remarks and was joined by diplomats, UN officials, City of NY officials, staff, and global citizens. The event took place in Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, entrance on East 72nd and 5th Avenue. “After its display in New York, the artwork will be displayed in major cities across the globe with the goal of spreading the UN values”.

Geneva was the installation’s first stop in Europe after its inaugural exhibition in New York’s Central Park. After departing Geneva in mid-December 2016, Enlightened Universe will travel to other European cities in 2017 and 2018.

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BRIEF INTRODUCTION

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BRIEF INTRODUCTION

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Enlightened Universe




ABOUT THE ARTWORK

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

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Cristobal Gabarron’s Enlightened Universe by Donald Kuspit

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding

field of sand--of Central Park’s Rumsey Playing Field,

of the United Nations, Cristobal Gabarron has created a sculptural installation in which seventy life-size

confirming its playfulness.

figures, each representing one year in which the United Nations has been in existence, circle a globe representing Mother Earth, more broadly and grandly,

of the dome in the distance behind it as well as the circular shape of the playing field. Circular geometry is an aesthetic constant of the piece: the figures form

the cosmos. The small figures dance like children around the huge globe, their linked hands signaling their purposeful unity. One is reminded of celebrants dancing around a Maypole; the figures resonate with joie de vivre, as their festive colors suggest. To use the sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies’s distinction, they form an organic community rather than an anonymous society. Two-dimensional silhouettes, their flatness and abstractness indicate their modernist character.

Composed of fluid planes, variously shaped and sized, they seem eccentrically cubist and covertly surreal.

The upright figures seem like mirages in a desert. The work was in fact installed in the desert-like space—a

It is site-specific: the central globe echoes the shape

a continuously moving—suavely forceful--curve. Each over-determined figure—at once a symbol of a different year, different nation, and different person— is a sort of petite perception in a curvilinear continuum, grandly spiraling into illimitable space.

New figures can join the United Nations, suggesting that it will last forever, and that humanity will at last form a harmonious whole. The idealism built into Gabarron’s masterpiece is startling considering the reality of nations at odds—to put it politely--with each other.

Seen in bright sunlight, the flat shadows of the figures seem to bind them to the earth, even as their lively

Enlightened Universe

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

!9 colors raise them above it, turning to the sun like the

so that it all but completely overwhelms the figures,

leaves of growing plants. Indeed, the figures seem to grow before one’s eyes as their colors catch the

implying that their lives depend on it. Gabarron’s sculpture is an oddly open-ended dialectic of

light, suggesting that human beings thrive when they are in cordial relationship with each other—when they connect for the common good. They do so when they

aesthetic opposites: the geometric globe, with its self-contradictory geometry, and the gesture-like, expressionistic figures. It is a contradiction in terms,

enter the “sphere of light”—the globe, existing in majestic isolation like the life-giving sun. There is a

an aesthetically sophisticated paradox. The openendedness of the piece underscores the open-

mystical, even Platonic element to Gabarron’s sculpture: it is meant to lead us out of the cave of darkness into the light of understanding—

endedness of the perpetually moving line of changing figures—figures can be added, suggesting that the project of uniting nations and people is ongoing and

understanding of each other, leading us to live and move together like the “harmony of the spheres.”

unfinished, that is, incomplete, perhaps unavoidably incomplete: an impossible however hopeful project.

Gabarron’s globe has a diameter of 6,371 millimeters, indicating that it is a scaled down model of the earth, which has a radius of 6,371 kilometers (3,949 miles),

But then Gabarron’s sculpture is interactive: the spectator is invited to participate in it—to see himself or herself reflected in some facet of the great mirror,

but it is also like the sun, for its mirror surface emanates light in the course of reflecting it.

and thus be enlightened, however partially, and, above all, to identify with the colorful figures and thus

The mirror is faceted into modular units, breaking the light into nuanced fragments, intensifying and concentrating perception.

The sphere is subtly

become, however vicariously, one of them, another link in the living chain of human being. With that, the spectator completes the work—unites with it in

minimalist—the systematically faceted surface is in effect a gigantic grid--even as it is ingeniously

empathic engagement with the figures, and is thus enlightened.

maximalist, for the light makes it seem larger than it is,

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ABOUT THE ARTWORK

The sphere The form –a sphere- and its diameter -6,371 millimeters (20´10 13/16´´)-, is a tribute to the Earth –its 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles) average radius means a 1 / 2,000,000 scale- and is also a tribute to the people who live in It –about 7,325 millions at the end of 2015-, their cultures, their languages, their beliefs, their thoughts, their individualities, their personalities…; what constitutes their spiritual universes.

The sphere has a powerful meaning for the artist: it is an element symbol of perfection that embodies the center where dwells the core, radiating the force that nourishes and moves the Universe. It constitutes the volume of the circle, which is the other component of the work, and together they encompass the idea of ‹‹orb››.

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The human chain

Around the sphere we find a spiral formed by 70 different figures –one for each of the 70 years since the creation of the United Nations- which joined in hand create ‹‹solidarity chain›› tribute to the human values defended by the UN –freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, shared

responsibility, education and culture- necessary for coexistence on the Earth.

This 70 figures have a human scale – up to 2 by 1 meter (6´6 ½´´ by 3´3 1/4´´)- and represent all ethnicities, genders and ages of mankind. The spiral passageway, formed by the figures together holding in hands leads to the ‹‹sphere of light››..

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The monument rests on reflection

The purpose of this installation is to be interactive, since one walks through the passageway of the figures, posing with them or holding in hands with the chain, until one gets to the ‹‹sphere of light›› where people not only see images to highlight the achievements and inspiring values of the UN –

Freedom, Equality, Solidarity, Tolerance, Respect for Nature, Shared Responsibility, Education, Culture and also the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)but can also incorporate their own participation in the installation.

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The concept The concept of ‹‹infinity››, of ‹‹eternal motion›› is almost a constant in this artist´s work, who develops the icon of the spherical, the circular, even the spiral, in an iconographic vision of ‹‹life in multiple directions›› -essential theme in many of his series, such as “Circular”-.

In the Earth´s idea, as a representation of our world, the sphere is a container for both hemispheres that move between shadow and light; between yin and yang. It is our Earth in which seas and continents are arranged.

In the celestial idea, the circle encloses the sphere creating an ideal concentric surface by which the planets and stars move.

Let´s say that the intermediate region between the sphere and the circle is the space where the events and forms take place, where order and chaos are born, the space where actions, relations, knowledge, etc., are favored.

Thus, the conceptual part of the work rides on four different pillars: • The celestial concept as ideal surface, concentric to the Earth, on which the planets and stars can be seen in movement.

• The terrestrial concept as a representation of our world; the

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ABOUT THE ARTWORK Earth with its availability of land and seas.

• The concept of culture as the space where the actions, circumstances, relations and knowledge are developed.

• The concept of action as the right and balance among everything that exists.

In each link of the chain underlies the idea of the aftermath of disease, poverty, hunger, ignorance, war, etc., and how to find a remedy with the opposites in health, nutrition, education, peace…

And how only the man who inhabits one half of the world, who is away from the ‹‹misery›› that invades the other half, is able to provide a remedy in the search of sustainability and habitability of the hemispheres. In the end, the chain strengthens, like the sphere, the iconographic sense of movement and exchange between the two hemispheres: light and shadow, power and weakness, yin and yang. It is the transience and fragility of an ephemeral balance.

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ABOUT THE ARTWORK

The concept of the cause-effect relationship

The Objectives

The iconography of the three types of images –UN´s human values, Gabarron´s art, spectators´ responsessymbolize, and certainly provoke, some reaction in the viewer´s thought and interpretation.

This ‹‹solidarity chain›› of 70 sculptures is a wakeup call to connect realities and people.

The artist exposes the subject in a large ‹‹enlightened sphere›› and a long ‹‹universal chain›› that surrounds it in a spiral.

Messages The needs of coexistence must turn around the opportunities.

Mistakes from the past should make us more lucid and stronger to identify the paths.

Individuals and institutions must walk together and create a fair space for development and progress.

This art installation, for its own features and flexibility offered in its location, shows a great scope and degree of interaction with the public and even allows to expand the narrative of the work, gradually incorporating new dimensions related to global thinking.

This work is the best possible narrative axis for its symbolism, its scope and recognized human values to break the judgments that may exist about interaction and coexistence between the viewer and the contemporary artistic fact.

The artwork itself is an excellent discussion, turned into an exhibitive fact, about the values that soak the organization´s performance throughout history.

Values and commitments are transcendental in society.

Mainstreaming is both the differentiation and the engine to solve the big challenges.

Let´s think, reflect, prepare and undertake a change for humanity.

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ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Technical Specifications ø15 m. ~ ø30 m.

6.5 m.

1.2 ~2 m.

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19451946

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1945 - 1955 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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1955 - 1965 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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1965 - 1975 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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1975 - 1985 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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1985 - 1995 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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1995 - 2005 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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2005 - 2015 HUMAN CHAIN FIGURES

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20142015

ORIGINAL SKETCHES [Preparatory artwork - indoor exhibition]

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ORIGINAL SKETCHES [Preparatory artwork - indoor exhibition]

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Enlightened Universe

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ORIGINAL SKETCHES [Preparatory artwork - indoor exhibition]

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UNVEILING

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Enlightened Universe was unveiled by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 at 4.30 pm in Central Park, New York, an art installation to celebrate United Nations 70th Anniversary.

“I am grateful our Member States are showing such strong enthusiasm in marking 70 years of UN support for peace, development and human rights” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Enlightened Universe is an interactive sculpture comprising a sphere that is surrounded by a spiral of 70 figures, one for each year that the UN has been in existence. The sphere symbolizes perfection and is a tribute to Mother Earth. It is a repository of life, representing eternal motion and a connected world.

The figures around the sphere join hands to represent solidarity, honoring the values that the UN’s stands for —freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for

nature, education, culture—values that are necessary for all living things to coexist on Earth.

The sphere and spiral are made from stainless steel and together weigh 24 tones (52,910 lb). The sphere, which features a faceted mirror finish, measures 6,371 millimeters in diameter, a scaled down model of the Earth, which measures 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles) in radius. The figures are life-size, measuring up to 2 meters (6’5’’ in) in height, and represent all ages, genders, cultures and ethnicities. The spiral passageway formed by the figures leads to the “sphere of light.” The installation is interactive; visitors may walk through this passageway, posing with the figures and holding hands with the chain, until they get to the sphere in the center where they can see images that highlight the achievements and values of the UN.

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Unveiling Event Participants: UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, President of the General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft, President of the Security Council Roman Oyarzun, President of the Economic and Social Council Oh Joon, NY State Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, NYC Commissioner for International Affairs Penny Abeywardena, NYC Commissioner for Department of Parks and Recreation Mitchell Silver and artist Cristobal Gabarron

Rumsey Playfield, Central Park ¡ New York October 24th, 2015

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‹‹Together holding in hands››

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Enlightened Universe

UNVEILING-CENTRAL PARK · NEW YORK

E 72nd

Central Park · Rumsey Playfield

Entrance 5th Avenue: Thru 72nd Street Inside Central Park: Thru The Mall & Bethesda Terrace

UNVEILING GENEVE

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UNVEILING GENEVE ROTONDE DU MONT BLANC 24TH OCTOBER 2016

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Unveiling Event

Participants: M. Michael Møller, Directeur général de l’Office des Nations Unies à Genève; M. Victorio Redondo Baldrich, Ambassadeur et Représentant permanent adjoint de l’Espagne auprès des Nations Unies; M. Steve Bernard, Chef, Relations Extérieures, Ville de Genève; M. Cristóbal Gabarrón, artiste et concepteur de Univers de lumière. Maître de cérémonie : Alessandra Vellucci, Directrice, Service de l’information des Nations Unies.

Rotonde du Mont Blanc, Genève October 24th, 2016

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“This installation honoring the values of the United Nations is a good reminder of everyone’s responsibility in meeting this world’s challenges, which are captured in the Sustainable Development Goals,” says UN Geneva Director-General Michael Møller. “I hope this art piece inspires the Geneva public to action for implementing the Goals. I am grateful to the Gabarron Foundation for bringing it here and to the City of Geneva for hosting it in such a prominent location.”

For his part, the Mayor of Geneva, Guillaume Barazzone, says: “It is not by chance that this art piece, which symbolizes the world’s yearning for peace and tolerance, be given a central place in the heart of Geneva, which has the privilege of hosting the United Nations.”

The interactive installation encourages visitors to walk through the passageway created by the chain of figures to reach the central sphere. The artist has deliberately left a gap between two of the figures so visitors may complete the chain and thus become part of the art installation.

"Bringing Enlightened Universe to Geneva is for me the starting point of the European exhibition series of this art installation, designed to spread and foster UN values and principles,” says the artist, Cristobal Gabarron. “It is an honor that this embrace of solidarity, represented by 70 figures holding hands around the sphere that symbolizes Earth, could be completed by Genevans and visitors to the city.”

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PRESS CLIPPING: http://gabarron.org/Exhibitions/2015/EnlightenedUniverse/Press/PressClipping/tabid/4603/Default.aspx

VIDEOS: Enlightened Universe [9:03] From the creative Process to the exhibition Music: Manuel TĂŠvar and Laura Sierra, Iberian & Klavier

Opening video [2:12]

http://gabarron.org/Exhibitions/2015/EnlightenedUniverse/ Videos/EnlightenedUniverse/tabid/4618/Default.aspx https://vimeo.com/145081914 http://gabarron.org/Exhibitions/2015/EnlightenedUniverse/ Videos/OpeningVideo/tabid/4605/Default.aspx https://vimeo.com/144116746

Assembly [2:25]

http://gabarron.org/Exhibitions/2015/EnlightenedUniverse/ Videos/Assembly/tabid/4617/Default.aspx https://vimeo.com/144987253

NY 1

http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2015/10/25/u-n-celebrates-anniversary-with-sculpture-in-central-park.html

Antena 3 Spanish Television

https://vimeo.com/144609779

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

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CRISTOBAL GABARRON, 1945. Mula, Murcia (Spain)

A world-renowned artist, Cristobal Gabarron has created large-scale installations and designs that have contributed to redefining the essence of cities and communities. Some of his major works include New York, Miami, Madrid, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Born in Mula (Murcia), Spain, Cristobal Gabarron received his early artistic training in Valladolid before pursuing his career in France and Italy. He currently divides his time between Spain and the United States.

Gabarron centers his work on the idea of the life of individuals and the coexistence and development of human values. Throughout his 50-year career, Gabarron has been commissioned by public and private organizations across the world to create noteworthy and unique art pieces for special

occasions, for example, the Olympic Mural for the Barcelona Olympic Games (1992), the Encounter Mural for the Universal Exhibition of Seville (1992) or the sculpture Atlanta Start (1996). His collaboration with the United Nations has spanned most of his career, starting in 1986, when he designed the World Peace Stamp to celebrate the UN International Peace Year, and continuing with his artwork for the UN New Millennium Summit (2000) or the Millennium Chapel (2001).

Prominent cultural institutions like the IVAM - Valencia Institute of Modern Art-, the Museum of Modern Art in Gdansk, Poland, The China Art Museum of Shanghai or the Today Museum of Beijing have held retrospective exhibitions of Gabarron’s work.

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Selected Exhibitions

1964

Galería Castilla, Valladolid

2006

IVAM – Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno, Valencia

1970

École des Beaux-Arts, Paris

1972

Galería Macarrón, Madrid

2006

Hugieia Art Gallery, Belgium

1974

Galleria Fiamma Vigo, Roma

2006

Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid

1974

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago de Chile

2006

Guy Pieters Gallery, Saint Paul de Vence

2006

Palacio Almudí, Murcia

2007

National Museum of Modern Art of Gdansk, Poland

2009

Mal Maison, Cannes

2011

Niemeyer Center, Aviles

2012

Bokrijk Open Art Museum, Genk

1980 Galeria Rayuela, Madrid 1985. Space and Cube, London 1986

United Nations, New York

1990

Palais de l’Europe, Strasbourg

1991

Galerie Bodenschatz, Basel

1991

Tecla Sala Art Center L’Hospitalet, Barcelona

2012

1992

American Sports Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) – Daphne, Alabama

American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington DC

2013

ARTZUID, Amsterdam

1992

Fundación Carlos de Amberes, Madrid

2014

1999

Musee Olympique, Lausanne

Shanghai Jing’an International Sculpture Park (JISP), presented by Purple Roof Art Gallery

2003

Guggenheim, Bilbao

2015

China Art Museum of Shanghai

2005

Museo del Barrio, New York

2016

Guangdong Museum of Art

2006

Chelsea Art Museum, New York

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Selected works for United Nations

UN Millennium Summit · 2000

UN 70th Anniversary · 2015

Strong UN. Better World.

Designed by the Graphic Design Unit, Outreach Division, United Nations Department of Public Information. Artwork by Cristóbal Gabarrón.

Our Hope for Peace · 1986

ABOUT THE ARTIST

!45 The Millennium Chapel · 2001