It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of our UNESCO Artist for Peace Dani Karavan. His monumental sculptures made him a great artist in the service of peace and humanism - an artist who shared in every way the values and ideals of our Organization. The artworld is witnessing the departure of one of its most distinguished sculptors, and our Organization a valuable ally and a precious friend.
The famous Israeli artist and sculptor Dani Karavan was designated UNESCO Artist for Peace in July 1996, in light of his contribution to the promotion of peace through his sculptures.
In December 1993, Dani Karavan participated in the international meeting "Peace, the day after" organized by UNESCO in Granada, Spain. This meeting brought together for the first time a large number of Israeli and Palestinian intellectuals and artists, in order to establish a cultural dialogue and support the peace process.
Following this meeting, Dani Karavan created an environmental sculpture in UNESCO’s garden entitled "Square of Tolerance", to symbolize the dawn of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. At the inauguration in May 1996, he paid tribute to the role played by Yitshak Rabin, the Israeli Prime Minister murdered in 1995, in the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. This environmental sculpture, composed of a massive olive tree surrounded by grass, earth, sand and water continues to awaken contemporary consciences to UNESCO's fundamental aspiration for peace. UNESCO's fundamental aspiration for peace.
In his capacity as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, Dani Karavan participated in 1997 at the Nuremberg Prize, a demonstration for tolerance, human rights, peace around the Mediterranean and in the Middle East.
Through his creations, Dani Karavan has never ceased to work to reveal our common humanity. As such, he will continue to guide UNESCO and the entire family of Goodwill Ambassadors in their work in the service of peace.
We will not cease, together with all those who have been touched by his work and his personality, to keep alive his work and his personality, to keep his memory alive - for if he leaves us today, his legacy remains.