Saype in New York for General Assembly – and Celebrate 75 Years of United Nations with gift from Geneva to NYC

Completing a cross Atlantic bookending of public artworks that few ever could, the French-Swiss artist Saype was at the UN this week for the General Assembly meeting – and to complete a project he began at the UN in Geneva.

Entitled “World in Progress” representing two children drawing their ideal world, his new piece answers visually the one he completed – using the north Lawn of the U.N. headquarters to paint his 11,000 square meter celebration of the U.N.’s 75th Anniversary. Naturally, the fresco uses biodegradable paint. Saype says he hopes the work will appeal to the world leaders who are joined here in New York for their annual round of speaking and “Remind them that they must not lose sight of the luminous ideal of peace between nations – hand in hand with the preservation of their environmental world heritage.”

Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress II”. UN Headquarters, New York City, NY. September 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)

“Giant ephemeral landart painting by Swiss French artist Saype entitled ‘World in Progress’ representing two children drawing their ideal world, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The artwork covering 6000 square meters was produced with biodegradable paints made from natural pigments such as coal and chalk. The fresco, offered by Switzerland, for the the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco on 26.6.1945 will be inaugurated by Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, in the presence of the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya.”

Saype. “World in Progress”. UN European Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland. June 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress”. UN European Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland. June 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress”. UN European Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland. June 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress”. UN European Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland. June 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress”. UN European Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland. June 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
Saype. “World in Progress”. UN European Headquarters. Geneva, Switzerland. June 2021. (photo © Valentin Flauraud for Saype)
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