fbpx
Wikipedia

United Nations Slavery Memorial

May 02, 2024

The United Nations Slavery Memorial, officially known as The Ark of Return – The Permanent Memorial at the United Nations in Honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, is an installation at the Visitors' Plaza of the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City, intended as a permanent reminder of the long-lasting effects of slavery and the Transatlantic slave trade.[1] It was designed by Rodney Leon, a Haitian-American architect, and installed in 2015.[2]

View of the memorial from the outside

It includes three main elements: a large triangular sculpture with a map depicting the triangular slave trade; a prone human figure depicting those who were transported overseas enslaved; and a reflecting pool mean to honour the memory of those who died in slavery.[1]

Description edit

The memorial's name is drawn from the castle on the island of Gorée, Senegal, where enslaved people were held before being shipped across the ocean. One of the exits of the castle is known as "the door of no return".[2][3] The memorial is meant to serve as "a spiritual place of return".[2]

The structure, which is meant to evoke the shape of a slave ship, is 30 feet tall and made of triangular white marble panels supported by a steel frame, which represent the triangular shipping routes of the slave trade.[3][4][5][6] A map showing these routes have been etched into one of the interior panels.[2][3] Visitors are able to walk through the structure, representing the journeys of enslaved people.[5]

Also inside the structure is a horizontal statue of an androgynous figure carved from black Zimbabwe granite,[3] meant to represent the "human spirit" and the deaths of all those who died due to the slave trade.[2] Above the statue is an etched depiction of a crowded slave ship.[3] Tears run down the figure's face into a triangular reflecting pool.[3]

History edit

The Slavery Memorial concept came from various resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly including A/RES/62/122, A/RES/63/5, and the Durban Declaration.

Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon was chosen to design the memorial in 2013, his design having won out of a total 310 entries from 83 countries.[2] Nicolas Grun and Pierre Laurent were named as second place winners for their design, Mémorial d’Ebène, and two designs were named as third place winners: Sofia Castelo's Middle Passage, and The Wounded Earth, designed by Carlo Gondolfi, Paola Passeri, Alessandra Ripa, and Monica Sacchetti.[7]

The project was supported by the Permanent Memorial Trust Fund and from India, which contributed US$250,000;[8][9] the estimated cost of the project prior to its construction was 4.5 million dollars. The white marble needed for the project was sourced from Vermont.[6]

Initially the memorial was scheduled to be unveiled in 2014, in time for the 69th session of the general assembly. This was pushed back to 2015, both due to funding shortfalls and so its installation would coincide with the International Decade for People of African Descent, which started in 2015.[10][11]

The memorial was officially unveiled on March 25, 2015, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.[5] The design won one of the Pinnacle Awards of the Marble Institute of America later that year.[6]

Advisory board edit

Partners edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Permanent Memorial | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, 25 March".
  2. ^ a b c d e f "FEATURE: Architect of UN slavery memorial explains 'The Ark of Return'". UN News. 2015-03-25. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  3. ^ a b c d e f André, Vania (2015-04-06). "Haitian American Architect Rodney Leon Slavery Memorial Unveiled at United Nations". The Haitian Times. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. ^ Wills, Cheryl (2016-02-25). "Transatlantic Slave Trade Memorial in Manhattan Stands Taller During Black History Month". spectrumlocalnews.com. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  5. ^ a b c Omala-Gauvin, Mirriam (2018-11-28). "Permanent Memorial for slavery: The Ark of Return". africanunion-un. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  6. ^ a b c Becker, Peter (14 June 2016). "A ship made of marble prisms commemorating slave trade across the Atlantic". Stone-ideas.com. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  7. ^ "Winning design "The Ark of Return" for the Permanent Memorial in Honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade unveiled by UN Secretary-General". UNESCO. 2013-09-23. from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  8. ^ Minsky, Tequila (2015-04-01). "Honoring slavery's victims with The Ark of Return". Caribbean Life. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  9. ^ "The Ark of Return: UN unveils memorial for slave trade victims, India main donor to monument-World News". Firstpost. 2015-03-26. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  10. ^ Bailey, Harold (2014-10-07). "Shortfall in funds to erect slavery memorial". Jamaica Observer. from the original on 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  11. ^ Thompson, Kimone (2014-08-04). "Monument to slavery now set for 2015 unveiling at UN". Jamaica Observer. from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-05-31.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • The Ark of Return on Rodney Leon's website
  • Ark of Return Brochure
  • United Nations Ark of Return
  • Architect Rodney Leon visits United Nations Headquarters
  • Rodney's Journey: Making the ark of return
  • The Ark of Return

40°45′1.7″N 73°58′0.8″W / 40.750472°N 73.966889°W / 40.750472; -73.966889


 

This article about a sculpture in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

May 02, 2024
united, nations, slavery, memorial, officially, known, return, permanent, memorial, united, nations, honour, victims, slavery, transatlantic, slave, trade, installation, visitors, plaza, headquarters, united, nations, york, city, intended, permanent, reminder,. The United Nations Slavery Memorial officially known as The Ark of Return The Permanent Memorial at the United Nations in Honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is an installation at the Visitors Plaza of the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City intended as a permanent reminder of the long lasting effects of slavery and the Transatlantic slave trade 1 It was designed by Rodney Leon a Haitian American architect and installed in 2015 2 View of the memorial from the outside It includes three main elements a large triangular sculpture with a map depicting the triangular slave trade a prone human figure depicting those who were transported overseas enslaved and a reflecting pool mean to honour the memory of those who died in slavery 1 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Advisory board 4 Partners 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription editThe memorial s name is drawn from the castle on the island of Goree Senegal where enslaved people were held before being shipped across the ocean One of the exits of the castle is known as the door of no return 2 3 The memorial is meant to serve as a spiritual place of return 2 The structure which is meant to evoke the shape of a slave ship is 30 feet tall and made of triangular white marble panels supported by a steel frame which represent the triangular shipping routes of the slave trade 3 4 5 6 A map showing these routes have been etched into one of the interior panels 2 3 Visitors are able to walk through the structure representing the journeys of enslaved people 5 Also inside the structure is a horizontal statue of an androgynous figure carved from black Zimbabwe granite 3 meant to represent the human spirit and the deaths of all those who died due to the slave trade 2 Above the statue is an etched depiction of a crowded slave ship 3 Tears run down the figure s face into a triangular reflecting pool 3 History editThe Slavery Memorial concept came from various resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly including A RES 62 122 A RES 63 5 and the Durban Declaration Haitian American architect Rodney Leon was chosen to design the memorial in 2013 his design having won out of a total 310 entries from 83 countries 2 Nicolas Grun and Pierre Laurent were named as second place winners for their design Memorial d Ebene and two designs were named as third place winners Sofia Castelo s Middle Passage and The Wounded Earth designed by Carlo Gondolfi Paola Passeri Alessandra Ripa and Monica Sacchetti 7 The project was supported by the Permanent Memorial Trust Fund and from India which contributed US 250 000 8 9 the estimated cost of the project prior to its construction was 4 5 million dollars The white marble needed for the project was sourced from Vermont 6 Initially the memorial was scheduled to be unveiled in 2014 in time for the 69th session of the general assembly This was pushed back to 2015 both due to funding shortfalls and so its installation would coincide with the International Decade for People of African Descent which started in 2015 10 11 The memorial was officially unveiled on March 25 2015 the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 5 The design won one of the Pinnacle Awards of the Marble Institute of America later that year 6 Advisory board editGoodwill ambassadors Russell Simmons entrepreneur philanthropist Chair Mr Howard Dodson Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Cheik Diarra Microsoft Middle East and Africa Ellen Haddigan Diamond Empowerment Fund David Scheider The Coca Cola Company Harriet Mouchly Weiss Kreab Gavin ANderson Joseph Daniel National September 11 Memorial amp Museum at the World Trade Center David Dinkins School of International Public Affairs Peter Tichansky Business Council for International Understanding Luis Ubinas Ford Foundation Congressman Gregory W Meeks Javier Evans senior premier corporate and professionals relationship manager HSBC Partners editCARICOM United Nations Office for Partnerships Jamaica Mission African UnionSee also editUnited Nations Art CollectionReferences edit a b Permanent Memorial International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 25 March a b c d e f FEATURE Architect of UN slavery memorial explains The Ark of Return UN News 2015 03 25 Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 a b c d e f Andre Vania 2015 04 06 Haitian American Architect Rodney Leon Slavery Memorial Unveiled at United Nations The Haitian Times Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 Wills Cheryl 2016 02 25 Transatlantic Slave Trade Memorial in Manhattan Stands Taller During Black History Month spectrumlocalnews com Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 a b c Omala Gauvin Mirriam 2018 11 28 Permanent Memorial for slavery The Ark of Return africanunion un Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 a b c Becker Peter 14 June 2016 A ship made of marble prisms commemorating slave trade across the Atlantic Stone ideas com Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 Winning design The Ark of Return for the Permanent Memorial in Honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade unveiled by UN Secretary General UNESCO 2013 09 23 Archived from the original on 2023 05 31 Retrieved 2023 05 31 Minsky Tequila 2015 04 01 Honoring slavery s victims with The Ark of Return Caribbean Life Retrieved 2023 05 31 The Ark of Return UN unveils memorial for slave trade victims India main donor to monument World News Firstpost 2015 03 26 Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 Bailey Harold 2014 10 07 Shortfall in funds to erect slavery memorial Jamaica Observer Archived from the original on 2023 08 30 Retrieved 2023 05 31 Thompson Kimone 2014 08 04 Monument to slavery now set for 2015 unveiling at UN Jamaica Observer Archived from the original on 2023 05 31 Retrieved 2023 05 31 External links editOfficial website The Ark of Return on Rodney Leon s website Ark of Return Brochure United Nations Ark of Return Architect Rodney Leon visits United Nations Headquarters Rodney s Journey Making the ark of return The Ark of Return 40 45 1 7 N 73 58 0 8 W 40 750472 N 73 966889 W 40 750472 73 966889 nbsp This article about a sculpture in the United States is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United Nations Slavery Memorial amp oldid 1216607063, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.