Fabrizio Ruggiero's address at the Transformative Power of Art exhibit
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Audrey Hepburn's portrait on display at "The Transformative Power of Art" exhibition,
at the United Nations headquarters in New York.[Photo/un.org]
English actress Audrey Hepburn was among 16 global thinkers and artists whose portraits were displayed at a recent UN exhibition that honored them for their contributions to the common good of humanity.
Fabrizio Ruggiero, Fresco Portrait of Audrey Hepburn
Fresco with mortar, pigments on wooden panel.
Cm. 160 x 130 x 5
Audrey Hepburn memorable lead role in Roman Holiday won her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award in 1953. She was the first actress to be so widely honored for a single performance. She will always be remembered for her brilliant transformation from the humble street-florist, Eliza Doolittle, to the gorgeously arresting “My Fair Lady”.
Later, she put her luminous charisma and compassionate heart at the service of UNICEF, becoming its Goodwill Ambassador, and traveling to the most disadvantaged places in Africa, Asia and South America. By acting on the ground with the most vulnerable, she became the face of many UNICEF campaigns, and a key figure in building awareness in the UN humanitarian projects in conflict zones across the globe. Her distinguished and gracious example inspired many other stars to become Goodwill Ambassadors and walk in her evolved and transformative foot steps.
One month before she passed away in January 1993, the unforgettable “Fair Lady” was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her humanitarian work.
"The Transformative Power of Art" exhibition, organized by the president of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa, was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on June 30.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon listens to painter and curator Fabrizio Ruggiero introducing the fresco portrait of Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan)
The curator of the exhibition Fabrizio Ruggiero's 16 large portraits combine the ancient fresco technique with contemporary technology and depict thinkers and artists from all continents who contributed to the common good of humanity and stood up for the most vulnerable.
The other 15 are Pakistani rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, musician from Gabon Pierre-Claver Akendengue, American author Maya Angelou, American folk singer Joan Baez, British actress Audrey Hepburn, Russian painter Vassily Kandinsky, Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, India's film director Satyajit Ray, Grammy Award-winning South African singer and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba, French philosopher Edgar Morin, Iranian actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Ugandan poet Okot p'Bitek, Brazilian social documentary photographer Sebasti Salgado, Nigerian playwright and poet Wole Soyinka, and Kenyan writer Ngugi Wa Thiong'o.
Through paintings, sculptures, papier mache and scented dried flowers, the exhibition embodies the necessity to place people at the centre of nations' concern while protecting the planet. The exhibition is part of the United Nations "2015: Time for Global Action" campaign.
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