Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director-General
of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Luis Gallegos, Ambassador of
Ecuador, Alexandre Fasel, Ambassador of Switzerland, artist
Serge Diakonoff, and David Chikvaidze, Chief Librarian, UNOG.
The ‘Connecting the world: Art and the information society’ exhibition
opening at the United Nations Palais des Nations.
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20 February 2013, Geneva, Switzerland
ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun I. Touré joined artists and diplomats to open a special exhibition on the impact of technology on modern artistic expression. Entitled ‘Connecting the world: Art and the information society’, the exhibition, which was held at the United Nations Palais des Nations, featured the work of local artist Serge Diakonoff and was presided over by host Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and hosted by Diva International magazine.
“Technology is playing an active role in inspiring the imaginations of artists everywhere and in making art itself more accessible – both to those creating it and to those appreciating it,” said Dr Touré.
“Throughout human history, artists have embraced new technologies as they became available – from the invention of papyrus by the Egyptians, to the development of new techniques in stone carving in Ancient Greece, to the perfection of frescoes and oil painting in the past thousand years, to the use of mediums such as photography, film and multimedia in the 20th century.
“Throughout this cultural and technological progress we see one constant – which is the desire, indeed the need, to communicate. The desire to cross linguistic and cultural divides, and to reach out and inspire other people, both near and far. The desire to have a voice and to be heard. ICTs bring the potential to reach out to all of humanity, and have the potential to give everyone a voice, and to be heard across the world,” Dr Touré said.
The event attracted a large and enthusiastic audience, who also heard remarks from high-level guests including Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, Ambassador, of the Republic of Ecuador, and Alexandre Fasel Ambassador of Switzerland.
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