Question

What role did the replica of Guernica play at the United Nations on February 17, 2003 and how does this speak to the power of this great 20th century painting?

Answer 1

The replica of Picasso’s famous painting of Guernica in the backdrop of the podium in 2003 at the United nations carried a significant and bold message for the globe. The US secretary of defense Colin Powell was supposed to give his speech at the UN about the Iraq war that was ongoing there. The painting was of a destroyed town after the aerial bombardment of WW2 of the ancient Basque town in 1937. The horror of the war and the death and destruction was very well represented by the artist in this frame which was huge and was put behind the position before which Powell’s speech was to happen.

This act says a lot about the use of arts and paintings of the century to make people aware of the global distress from historical blunders being signified in the Post 20^th century to make the world leaders get back their sense of horror, death, and destruction that humanity causes to humanity in the name of war. The symbolism that the painting carried was a silent message to the global power like the US to restrain its war efforts on Iraq and deal with the tyrant in a manner that suits a no death and destruction methods like a war. Hence the politicians would get the message clearly with subtle arts and its use for the best of humanity's benefits in the UN forum for the best of humanity and not war. Such a powerful way to display the distaste of destruction was a huge success as it gathered the global leader’s attention from the minority who were against the war with a distinct symbolism which is a great way of showing dissent without engaging in political bitterness.