UNESCO Artist for Peace Hedva Ser inaugurates Tree of Peace sculpture at Al Quds University in Jerusalem – UNESCO press release

11.07.2013 – UNESCOPRESS

UNESCO Artist for Peace Hedva Ser inaugurates Tree of Peace sculpture at Al Quds University in Jerusalem

© UNESCO/Wisam Al Assi

UNESCO Artist for PeaceHedva Ser on 10 July

inaugurated a bronze statue entitled Tree of Peace

at the Palestinian Al Quds University in Jerusalem

The 2x2m bronze sculpture is intended “to build bridges between Palestinians and Israelis through science, education and the arts,” said sculptor Hedva Ser, who considers that the Tree of Peace is an imagine that “educates for peace.”

Founder and Vice-President of the World Center of Women Artists in Amman, Jordan, Ser is committed to UNESCO’s ideals of “building peace in the minds of men and women.” She says she would “welcome the opportunity of planting a forest of Trees of Peace, to spread a message of mutual respect and peace around the world.”

To date, Ser’s forest has taken root at Al Quds University, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the A.T. Still University in Mesa (Arizona) and Temple University in Philadelphia.

The artist, who is also known for her tapestry and jewellery works, was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2011, She is a Godmother of International Art Camp of Andorra, a two yearly meeting of artists from all over the world, notably countries in conflict. Works produced as part of the Art Camp have been shown at the Council of Europe, UNESCO in Paris and the UNESCO Palazzo in Venice as part of the city’s Biennale.

The gift to Al Quds University was made possible by a group of private donors in the U.S.A.