This sculpture depicts the famous Polish pianist, Arthur Rubinstein, performing at the inaugural ceremony of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. Poland was one of the founding members of the United Nations but could not participate in the conference as a result of a dispute as to which government emerging from World War II would represent Poland. When Rubinstein saw Poland’s flag missing from the hall, he changed the program of his concert and played the Polish national anthem. His slow, majestic rendition received a standing ovation. For his courageous gesture, Rubinstein earned Poland’s admiration and reverence. 

Arthur Rubinstein (1887 – 1982) was an American-Polish classic pianist and is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. He said, “I have found that if you love life, life will love you back.”

The gift was presented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, to the United Nations and Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette accepted the gift on behalf of the United Nations.

Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette said, “You give us this remembrance of our shared past at a time when the present is troubling, and the future uncertain. It is fitting that the form of Arthur Rubinstein and his piano will be placed here, by the Delegates’ Entrance of the UN, to greet the representatives of very nation as they arrive every day to discuss the challenges of our time.”