THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF THE ROERICHS
presents the exhibition
«The Roerich Pact. The History and Modernity»
at the UN Office in Geneva
We are delighted to announce that the exhibition “The Roerich Pact. The History and Modernity” will be inaugurated at the Palais des Nations at the UN office in Geneva on June 12th, 2013 at 18:15, on the “Day of Russia”, national holiday of the Russian Federation. It is dedicated to the International Treaty on the Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments known as the Roerich Pact. Its name commemorates its author – Nicholas Roerich, an outstanding Russian painter, thinker, humanist and public figure.
The exhibition is organized by the International Centre of the Roerichs jointly with the Committee for the Preservation of the Roerich Heritage, the Permanent Representation of the Russian Federation to the UN Office, and other international organizations in Geneva with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Nicholas Roerich holds a special place in history of the 20th century's world culture. In the beginning of the last century he initiated an international movement for protection of cultural monuments as a result of which came an International Treaty on the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
Signing of the Roerich Pact became one of the most important events of the 20th century in the field of international protection of cultural heritage of humanity. First conferences in support of the Roerich Pact were successfully held in 1931-1932 in Bruges and were welcomed by prominent cultural and public figures, scientists and politicians. The Pact was endorsed by such major European organizations as the League of Nations International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation, International Museum Organization. Prominent members of the Hague Academy of International Law were directly involved in the signing of the Roerich Pact. Among them was baron Taube, first representative at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, marquis Adachi, President of the Permanent Court of International Justice in the Hague and judges Antonio de Bustamante and Rafael Altamir.
Eventually the idea of the signing of the Roerich Pact gained support in the Americas at the highest level.
The Roerich Pact was signed in Washington by the representatives of 21 states of Pan American Union including the USA on 15 April, 1935. During the signing of the Pact in Oval Hall of the White House the US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared: «When proposing the signing of this Pact to all nations we are straining after the worldwide operation of the prime principle for preservation of modern civilization. This agreement is of much more spiritual significance than that expressed in the text».
The fact that the Pact guarantees unconditional protection for the cultural heritage of the mankind from barbarous destruction not only during military conflicts but also during peaceful times - from ignorance, fanaticism and mere indifference that lead to the loss of cultural heritage - makes it a unique historical document. The Pact has high humanitarian significance as it protects not only cultural institutions but its employees as well.
The appeal of Nicholas Roerich “Peace through Culture” expressed in the Pact raised the question of the necessity of the preservation of peace through preservation and protection of culture. The Roerich Pact showed how peace can be preserved and war can be eliminated.
The Roerich Pact laid the foundation for the creation of the basic UNESCO instruments in the field of international humanitarian law, aimed at the protection of the cultural heritage during the time of war and peace. Its principles served as the basis for the 1954 Hague convention on protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict.
Nowadays the Roerich Pact has not lost its relevance. Cultural heritage becomes a primary target in times of military, religious and ethnic conflicts more and more often. We can remember unique statues of Buddhas of Bamiyan destroyed by Afghan Mujahedins, ancient churches destroyed in Kosovo, the National Museum ransacked in Bagdad, ancient mausoleum of Sidi Mahmoud in Tibmuktu in the north of Mali, destroyed by Islamists in 2012, medieval Old Aleppo stamped out of existence during a military conflict in Syria. This list can go on forever...
The exposition of the exhibition «The Roerich Pact. History and Modernity» includes materials on the creation of the Roerich Pact, unique photographs, valuable archival documents from the funds of the International Centre of the Roerichs as well as reproductions on canvas of the paintings by Roerichs. Part of the exposition is dedicated to Yuli Vorontsov, prominent diplomat, peace and culture advocate. The last seven years of his life he served as President of the International Centre of the Roerichs and made a great contribution to the promotion of the Roerich Pact ideas.
Nicholas Roerich believed that further evolution of humanity is impossible without protection and development of culture and human reference to its origins. He was confident that only by expanding the culture space we would be able to reduce chances of armed conflicts. He wrote: "Where there is culture, there is peace".
At 16:30, prior to the opening of the exhibition, there will be a screening of a new documentary “The Call of the Cosmic evolution”, dedicated to two great figures of the 20th century – Nicholas and Helena Roerich. For the first time it provides the insight into their eminent cultural activities: philosophy of cosmic reality “the Living Ethics”, ambitious Central Asian expedition of Nicholas Roerich (1924-1928), the Institute of Himalayan Research “Urusvati”, the Roerich Pact. What stood behind these unique cultural projects? What were the 20th century events that Nicholas Roerich represented in his paintings? The answers to these and other questions can be found in the documentary made by Lyudmila Shaposhnikova, First Vice president of the International Centre of the Roerichs, Director General of the Museum named after Nicholas Roerich, famous scientist, writer, public figure and a major researcher of life and art of the Roerich family.
Documentary screening will take place June 12th, 2013 at 16:30 at the Palais des Nations
Hall 18, Pregny Gate, E Building, Door 40, 1st floor
Exhibition opening will take place June 12th, 2013 at 18:15 at the Palais des Nations
at the Mezzanin gallery, Pregny Gate, E Building, Door 40, 2nd floor