On December 3rd, 2025, UNMAS held an opening of its special exhibition, “Forward NOT Fragmented,” in the Visitor’s Lobby of the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, and through a Digital Exhibition. This exhibition coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing the ongoing challenges posed by unresolved explosive threats.
A central feature of the exhibition is the Landmine Garden, an interactive AR experience designed to place visitors in a familiar yet fragile setting. With VR goggles, visitors had the opportunity to step into a landmine garden. Guided by audio cues, visitors take on the role of deminers, experiencing the careful attention and responsibility required to detect and clear explosive threats. Once disarmed, the mines transform into flowers, symbolizing recovery, renewal, and hope.
The Landmine Garden reminds us that landmines do not exist only in distant conflict zones. They continue to threaten everyday spaces where families live, children play, and communities rebuild. By placing visitors in an environment they recognize, the installation makes the global reality of explosive ordnance more immediate and deeply personal.
Landmine Garden will be back at the exhibition on 2, 5, and 6 January, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as part of the ongoing #ForwardNotFragmented exhibition. We warmly invite you to join us, step into the experience, and engage with the shared vision of a safer, mine-free world.
