“Ultimately Human: The Leaders and the Led”

Ambassador Harper,
Mr. Rossin
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is wonderful to be with you this evening to mark the unveiling of this stunning portrait exhibit. I would like to sincerely thank the Permanent Mission of the United States of America and Ambassador Harper for making this evening possible and for their continued commitments to the cultural vitality of the Palais des Nations. Of course, a special thank you to the artist whose work we are celebrating tonight: Mr. Ross Rossin.

Portraiture is one of the most enduring art forms and it retains its power over us in spite of the proliferation of smartphones and the rise of the “selfie”. Portraits allow us to peer behind the facade and to glimpse a subject’s personality, mood and deeper truth. This may be because a portrait is really the interaction of three different visions: that of the artist, the sitter and the viewing public. The combination of these perspectives is what grants portraiture its ability to capture the lives of others. It’s what grants paintings their magic.

Tonight, we have the privilege to peer into lives divided by the tyrannies of distance, power and wealth. Gazing into these faces grants us the opportunity to empathize with them and to realize our shared humanity. This is the ultimate purpose of cultural events here at the Palais des Nations. In this home for every nation on Earth, art can break down barriers of language, politics and geography. It can foster empathy as well as the understanding that we are all united in our diversity. To quote the historic motto of the United States: “E pluribus unum”. “Out of many, one”.

In an era marked by calls for isolation and retrenchment, the power of art is needed now more than ever. As we continue to work collectively for human rights, disarmament, the protection of refugees and so many other causes, I know that art like these portraits will continue to inspire us to come together and forge a safer, more sustainable future.

Thank you all very much.