On the occasion of the UNESCO Executive Board, the Organisation’s headquarters is hosting the inauguration of Love Difference, a work by Maestro Michelangelo Pistoletto. In the presence of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Assistant Director-General Stefania Giannini, as well as Permanent Representatives of Member States and figures from the worlds of culture and art, the renowned Italian artist presented his latest creation, conceived specifically for the Organisation’s headquarters.
Love Difference features a photographic image of four human figures, whose selection and positioning symbolise the values of unity and universality. It is one of his iconic “mirror paintings”, works characterised by reflective surfaces that eliminate the distance between viewer and artwork, making the observer an integral part of the piece itself. The work also engages with its surroundings, having been carefully placed—on the artist’s request—near Walking Man by Alberto Giacometti, another masterpiece from the UNESCO permanent collection, which will be reflected in Pistoletto’s mirror.
Michelangelo Pistoletto, one of the leading figures of the Arte Povera movement—recently honoured with an exhibition at the prestigious Bourse de Commerce in Paris—has directed his career towards themes of civic and social engagement, with a particular focus on major global issues. This approach to art and life was the focus of the lectio magistralis on peace education delivered by the Maestro in November 2023, addressing Ministers of Education from around the world who had gathered at UNESCO for the Organisation’s General Conference. Pistoletto now returns to UNESCO, reaffirming his ongoing commitment to art as a tool for dialogue, mutual understanding, and “preventive peace”.
The initiative was promoted by the Permanent Delegation of Italy to UNESCO, in collaboration with the Pistoletto Cittadellarte Foundation and Galleria Continua. The work will become part of UNESCO’s permanent collection, joining pieces by other renowned international artists, including Picasso and Miró, as well as Italian masters such as Afro Basaldella and Arnaldo Pomodoro. “The work of Maestro Pistoletto will help remind us of the importance of UNESCO’s values and working method in the pursuit of global peace. As Member State Representatives walk down this corridor, they will see themselves reflected in the mirror painting of this great Italian artist—a visual reminder to remain faithful to the Constitution of this extraordinary Organisation,” declared Ambassador Liborio Stellino.
