No visit to Geneva is complete without a visit to the United Nations. I mean not everyone can go in, but one can stand outside the building and have a photograph taken. That’s what most people think they are going to do, until they reach there. Then they find themselves distracted by a big broken chair. Don’t believe me? See the picture below.
The Broken Chair is a wooden sculpture by the Swiss artist Daniel Berset, and constructed by the carpenter Louis Genève. Made out of 5.5 tons of wood, the 12 m high chair with a broken leg symbolises opposition to land mines and cluster bombs. It acts as a reminder to those visiting the place about the horrors of land mines. Many protests and demonstrations are held at this site.
The above photograph taken by me looks relatively benign like a piece of sculpture, while the one of the Broken Chair, taken by my niece’s friend on a cold December evening looks positively menacing and threatening, much like the danger posed by landmines and cluster bombs themselves.
According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, “landmines claim victims in every corner of the globe each day”. The Campaign is working towards a world-wide ban on landmines and as of date, 39 countries including India have not signed the Treaty.
The UNICEF has declared April 4 as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. And you will do your bit by reading this blog and passing on information about the dangers from landmines and cluster bombs, won’t you?
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nice one Sudha.. good post about the broken chair.. and sure I will pass on the info
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Thanks, Dubugu. Much appreciated.
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Nice…..wasn’t there when I went there!
Sonia
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Thanks, Sonia. When did you visit Geneva?
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Oh… I didn’t know about this one. It’s a very symbolic display indeed… will sure pass it on!
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Yes, that’s the word I was looking for. Symbolic. Thanks, Deboshree.
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Amazing piece of architecture. Much more visually horrifying than a man depicted with amputated legs.
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The chair is enormous and that is what strikes you from a distance and the broken leg sinks in much later and remains with you for a long long time.
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The second picture is downright creepy and scary !
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I don’t find it creepy or scary. But to me it is a chilling reminder of the effects of land mines and bombs. The size of the chair only drives the message home.
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Let us all wake up to the horrors of devious minds & take steps to end it.
Thank you for the photograph
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You are right! The second one looks as scary as the dangers posed by landmines. Positively love your travel shots – almost as much as your museum treasures 🙂
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I saw the broken chair in bright sunlight and it still gave me the creeps. I’m glad I didn’t see it the way the other photo captured it.
Thank you, Zephyr. It’s been along time since I wrote a blog post. Time to get back to writing. 🙂
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