Exhibition of the project “Signs of Identity / Signs of Diversity” in UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, May 15 – 21, 2010

Project “Signs of Identity / Signs of Diversity” was implemented within the framework of the UNESCO “Caucasus” project by the Art Academy of Latvia in cooperation with the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and the exhibition of the project “Signs of Identity / Signs of Diversity” was included in the programme of the International Festival of Cultural Diversity and was exhibited in UNESCO Headquarters, Paris from May 15 to 21, 2010.

The creative workshop of the project “Signs of Identity / Signs of Diversity” took place in Riga, Latvia from November 23 to 27, 2009 joining young artists and their professors from Baltic and Caucasus region countries and France. During the workshop artists each created two mosaics expressing their understanding and feeling of the notions of cultural diversity and identity as well as participated in the discussions how they see and experience intercultural dialogue and how they can explain and promote it through their work.

Lithuania was represented in the project by Professor Ieva Skaurone and two students - Linas Jusionis and Laura Ajutyte from Vilnius Academy of Arts. It was possible for representatives of the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO to meet these participants before the creative workshop in Riga so to prepare them thematically about the UNESCO’s work within the concepts of cultural diversity and cultural dialogue. That it is one of the core successes that this project not only enhanced international cooperation among art academies but also contributed to improving networks within participating countries among different stakeholders.

The workshop was concluded in an exhibition of 54 mosaics telling both the story of the different as well as of the common. Displaying mosaics and playing with the diverse stories they express the exhibition is a mosaic in itself explaining the notion of the diversity as a value from within rather in comparison!

This year the exhibition complimented the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures of which as one of its flagship events the International Festival of Cultural Diversity was organized in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from May 17 to 21, 2010. The exhibition “Signs of Identity / Signs of Diversity” because of its unique character in explaining the notion of diversity has been chosen to mark the gateway for the whole week and all other exhibitions and events during it. The exhibition was displayed in Hall Segur, 7, Place de Fontenoy, Paris and the opening of the exhibition was held on May 17 as part of the official opening event of the International Festival. The exhibition was open for visitors already from May 15 when the UNESCO Headquarters were open for visitors within the framework of the Museum Night celebrations in Paris.