ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
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Unveiling of Major Art Installation in Celebration of the UN’s 70th Anniversary The United Nations will celebrate an extraordinary event marking its 70th Anniversary as renowned artist Cristobal Gabarron unveils his monument entitled ‹‹Enlightened Universe›› in New York’s famed Central Park. The monument is an interactive sculpture formed by a sphere and surrounded by a spiral of 70 figures -one for each oh the 70 years since the UN was created. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will make opening remarks and will be joined by diplomats, UN officials, City of NY officials, staff, and global citizens. The event will take place in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, entrance on East 72nd and 5th Avenue. Visitors are encouraged to attend. After its display in New York, the artwork will be displayed in major cities across the globe.
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD · CENTRAL PARK · NEW YORK
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork 1
Sculptures
Technical Specifications
Location
About the Artist
Support
2
The sphere
The concept
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 7+ billion people who live in It, their cultures, their languages, their beliefs, their thoughts, their individualities, their personalities ... that constitutes our spiritual universe(s).
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"-.
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 ‹‹totality››, of ‹‹orb››.
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 Earth with its availability of land and seas. The concept of culture as the space where actions, circumstances, relations and knowledge are developed.
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 a ‹‹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 1/2" 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››.
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD · CENTRAL PARK · NEW YORK
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.
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork 1
Sculptures
Technical Specifications
Location
About the Artist
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2
The objectives This ‹‹solidarity chain›› of 70 sculptures is a wakeup call to connect realities and people.
The concept of the cause-effect relationship
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.
The iconography of the three types of images -UN's human values, Gabarron's art, spectators' responses- symbolize, and certainly provoke, some reaction in the viewer's thought and interpretation.
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 artist exposes the subject in a large ‹‹enlightened sphere›› and a long ‹‹universal chain›› that surrounds it in a spiral.
The artwork itself is an excellent discussion, turned into an exhibitive fact, about the values that soak the organization's performance throughout history.
The reflection can be challenged or supported by the viewer, who responds with the imprint of his thought, reflected in a text or a drawing or a self image to be attached to any of the silhouettes that form the links in this particular chain or edited in the "Enlightened Universe".
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. 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.
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD · CENTRAL PARK · NEW YORK
Transcendence On the opening day of the monument, the artist and different authorities will create the first sentence or drawing, followed by all the people attending to the event to be screened on the sphere and on the web, thus opening up the interaction to the general public. Then, the maximum authorities and the artist, along with representatives of other institutions, will invite the audience to start the first human chain, surrounding and emulating the installation's sculptural chain. At the same time and on the same day of each week, during the show, a human chain will be created, pledging on the different values: freedom, equality, tolerance, ... After completing the period of exposure in New York, the installation will travel through different UN cities worldwide, repeating the same program as in New York. All the images, drawings and interactions between the artwork "ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE" and the people will be added and accumulated on the web.
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
1945-1946
1946-1947
1947-1948
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1948-1949
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
1949-1950
1975-1985
1950-1951
Location 1985-1995
1951-1952
About the Artist
1995-2005
2005-2015
1952-1953
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Global
1953-1954
1954-1955
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
1955-1956
1956-1957
1957-1958
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1958-1959
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Technical Specifications 1965-1975
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1975-1985
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Location 1985-1995
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About the Artist
1995-2005
2005-2015
1962-1963
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1963-1964
1964-1965
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Sculptures 1945-1955
1965-1966
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ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1968-1969
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
1969-1970
1975-1985
1970-1971
Location 1985-1995
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About the Artist
1995-2005
2005-2015
1972-1973
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1973-1974
1974-1975
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About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
1975-1976
1976-1977
1977-1978
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1978-1979
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
1979-1980
1975-1985
1980-1981
Location 1985-1995
1981-1982
About the Artist
1995-2005
2005-2015
1982-1983
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1983-1984
1984-1985
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About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
1985-1986
1986-1987
1987-1988
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1988-1989
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
1989-1990
1975-1985
1990-1991
Location 1985-1995
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About the Artist
1995-2005
2005-2015
1992-1993
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Global
1993-1994
1994-1995
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About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1998-1999
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
1999-2000
1975-1985
2000-2001
Location 1985-1995
2001-2002
About the Artist
1995-2005 2005-2015
2002-2003
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Global
2003-2004
2004-2005
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
2008-2009
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
2009-2010
1975-1985
2010-2011
Location 1985-1995
2011-2012
About the Artist
1995-2005 2005-2015
2012-2013
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Global
2013-2014
2014-2015
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
Sculptures 1945-1955
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
1955-1965
Technical Specifications 1965-1975
1975-1985
Location 1985-1995
1995-2005
About the Artist 2005-2015
Global
Support
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
Sculptures
Technical Specifications
Location
About the Artist
Dimensions
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
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About the Artwork
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E 72nd Street
Central Park 路 Rumsey Playfield
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
Entrance 5th Avenue: Thru 72nd Street Inside Central Park: Thru The Mall & Bethesda Terrace
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
Sculptures
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Location
About the Artist
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CRISTOBAL GABARRON, 1945. Mula, Murcia (Spain) With over 50 years of artistic expression, Gabarron now resides in both Spain and in the United States. Far from the aesthetic conventionalisms, of isthmuses or vanguards, Gabarrón’s work only understands life. The individual human life, and the coexistence and the development of human values, are the pillars on which his art and his personal convictions rest. Gabarron has many milestones in his career which have made an impact on a global scale. The Olympic Mural for the Barcelona Olympic Games (1992), the Encounter Mural for the Universal Exhibition of Seville (1992), the sculptural project “Atlanta Start” (1996), the materialization of the work “Hope for Peace” (1986), the Official Poster for the Millennium Summit and the Millennium Chapel (2000-2001) are important examples of such milestones in his career. His collaboration with international organizations, such as the IOC and United Nations demonstrate his fruitful creative period, which still remains today. Cities around the world have embraced Gabarron’s vision with the displays of his public sculptures. Many prominent American, Asian and European cities have exhibited his works in popular streets and plazas. In addition, several towns have incorporated permanent large public outdoor sculptures which were handcrafted by the artist. His paintings and sculptures have been just the same center of analysis within Retrospectives as dedicated by the Chelsea Art Museum, the IVAM – Valencia Institute of Modern Art, the Museum of Modern Art of Gdanks in Poland or the Niemeyer Center, to analyze his creation. In all of them, critics and historians of the stature of Donald Kuspit, curator and professor of New York University, have proceeded to make careful analysis and study of his career, abundantly laid out in published literature in recent years.
Selected Exhibitions 1964. Galería Castilla, Valladolid 1970. École des Beaux-Arts, Paris 1972. Galería Macarrón, Madrid 1974. Galleria Fiamma Vigo, Roma 1974. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Santiago de Chile 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 1992. American Sports Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA) – Daphne, Alabama 1992. Fundación Carlos de Amberes, Madrid 1999. Musee Olympique, Lausanne 2003. Guggenheim, Bilbao
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD · CENTRAL PARK · NEW YORK
2005. Museo del Barrio, New York 2006. Chelsea Art Museum, New York 2006. IVAM – Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno, Valencia 2006. Hugieia Art Gallery, Belgium 2006. Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid 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 2012. American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington DC 2013. ARTZUID, Amsterdam 2014. Shanghai Jing’an International Sculpture Park (JISP), presented by Purple Roof Art Gallery 2015. China Art Museum of Shanghai
Brief Introduction
About the Artwork
ENLIGHTENED UNIVERSE Celebrating United Nations 70th Anniversary
RUMSEY PLAYFIELD 路 CENTRAL PARK 路 NEW YORK
Sculptures
Technical Specifications
Location
About the Artist
Support