The Ark of Return

The United Nations' 70th Birthday and the Arc of Return

This section discusses the significance of the United Nations' 70th birthday and the addition of a new sculpture to its artwork collection called the Arc of Return. The sculpture serves as a permanent memorial honoring the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.

Creating a Historical and Cultural Masterpiece

• Rodney Liang, an architect from New York, was given the rare opportunity to work on a project of historical and cultural significance.

• He designed and created the Arc of Return, which is located on the grounds of the United Nations headquarters in New York.

• The sculpture draws inspiration from the "door of no return" at Gorée Island in Senegal, where enslaved people were held before being taken away from their lives and families forever.

Unveiling the Arc of Return

• On March 25, 2015, after extensive work that involved sourcing marble from Italy, the Arc of Return was unveiled for the first time at United Nations headquarters.

• It serves as a permanent fixture to educate future generations about slavery's tragic history.

• This project has been an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience for Rodney Liang.

The transcript is already in English.