World Peace Art Exhibition 2018

Organized by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Exhibition A: 12 to 17 September 

Exhibition B: 19 to 24 September

About the Exhibition: 

The Permanent Mission of Japan presents the art exhibition “World Peace Art Exhibition 2018” to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The objective of the exhibition is to deliver “wish for peace through arts”. The exhibition will feature artworks and messages from artists conveying their wishes for peace. The World Peace Art Exhibition has long worked together for the elimination of nuclear weapons and lasting peace together with the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

This year, this 26th World Peace Art Exhibition was held domestically in Hiroshima, and overseas will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva.

Background:

The first World Peace Art Exhibition was held in 1993 in Osaka, Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack. With the intention of upholding the will of the victims of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the activities surrounding the exhibition have continued to be based in a “wish for peace through art.” Since the inaugural exhibition, with the support of public bodies including the Government of Japan, Hiroshima City, Nagasaki City, and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, the exhibition has been held in major venues around the world including museums, palaces, and even the Kennedy Space Center. In 1997 the exhibition was also held in the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Throughout its history, the exhibition has been held in a total of 29 cities in 19 countries, welcoming local people and leaders including Pope Benedict XVI and the current pope, Pope Francis, to partake in sharing a common desire for peace.

Each year, the World Peace Art Exhibition has continued to feature over 200 exhibits accompanied by messages for peace from the artists that created them. In recognition of many years of dedicated activities, in 2014 the exhibition was successfully held at the Paris Headquarters of UNESCO in its capacity as an organization that aims to contribute to peace and security in the world through promoting international cooperation through education, science and culture.