Opening of Slovak-Serbian Display of Naive Art

It is a great pleasure for me to deliver opening remarks at the “Art Exhibition of Slovak Naïve Art in Serbia”.

I have to make a confession: I am not seeing this amazing artwork for the first time. I was fortunate to serve as the Slovak Ambassador to Serbia and I have been to Kovačica many times. And so, I have enough firsthand experience to say that this artwork makes the beauty of Serbian towns and countrysides, and Slovak traditions, come alive. But, tonight has an added pleasure for me – since it is the first time I am seeing these pieces in the United Nations.

The naïve art from Kovačica is famous worldwide. It has been exhibited in galleries and museums all over the world. There is no coincidence, that the Kovačica Gallery of Pavel Babka was proclaimed a UNESCO world heritage centre for its publications and naive paintings in 2001. And I am really happy, that the founder of the Babka Kovačica Galleries and Foundation – Mr. Pavel Babka, could be with us tonight.

Now, the term of this art itself – naïve – has many meanings and connotations. And, the one I like the best is: natural and unaffected. Because, this artwork really does capture natural life of real people. The costumes. The traditions. The relationships. The little rituals of everyday life for Slovaks, in Serbia – at that time.

There are stories, behind this art. There is humanity, behind this art. There is life, behind this art. And this is what the United Nations is about. Not the processes and procedures and meetings. But the life, the humanity and the people, they are all for. So, I am glad we can see them, all around us, this evening.

To conclude, I want to thank the Serbian and Slovak Missions, for bringing us together this evening. This exhibit is an example of diplomacy through art and humanity. And I want to thank for bringing it to New York.