On the occasion of UNESCO’s Executive Board, the Organisation’s headquarters hosted the inauguration of the artwork Love Difference, by Maestro Michelangelo Pistoletto. The renowned Italian artist presented his latest creation, which was especially conceived for the Organisation’s headquarters, in the presence of its Director- General, Audrey Azoulay, and Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, as well as of Permanent Representatives of Member States and representatives from the world of culture and art.
Love Difference presents a photographic image of four human figures that were chosen and positioned to symbolise the values of unity and universality. It is one of Pistoletto’s iconic “mirror painting” artworks, whivh are characterised by reflective surfaces that erase the distance with the viewer, who becomes an integral part of the artwork itself. The artwork also dialogues with its environment since the Maestro has purposely chosen to position it close to another masterpiece in UNESCO’s permanent collection, Alberto Giacometti’s Walking Man, which reflects itself in the mirror painting.
Michelangelo Pistoletto is one of the main exponents of Arte Povera, an artistic movement that was recently honoured with an exhibition at the prestigious Bourse de Commerce in Paris. His whole career has been oriented towards civil and social commitment, with a particular focus on major global issues. This approach to art and life was the focus of the lectio magistralis on Education for peace with which the Maestro addressed the Ministers of Education who gathered at UNESCO from all over the world to attend the Organisation’s General Conference, in November 2023. Today Pistoletto returns to UNESCO reaffirming his constant commitment to promoting art as a tool for dialogue, mutual understanding and “preventive peace”.
The Italian Permanent Delegation at UNESCO promoted this initiative together with Fondazione Pistoletto Cittadellarte and Galleria Continua. The artwork will become part of UNESCO’s permanent collection, together with the artworks of other renowned international artists, including Picasso and Miró, and Italian artists such as Afro Basaldella and Arnaldo Pomodoro. “Michelangelo Pistoletto’s work will help remind us of the importance of UNESCO’s values and working method to achieve global peace. Walking along this corridor, the Representatives of the Member States will see themselves reflected in the mirror painting by the great Italian artist – a visual reminder to stau faithful to the Constitution of this extraordinary Organisation,” said Ambassador Liborio Stellino.
