Amaneciendo Verticalmente
This sculpture, Amaneciendo Verticalmente, or “Sunrise Vertically”, was given to the United Nations in 1998 and is located at the very front of the Secretariat building at the circle.
The artist, Ricardo Pascale (1942 –) is an accomplished economist, professor, author, newspaper columnist and sculptor. He was president of the Central Bank of Uruguay during 1985 – 1990 and then 1995 – 1996 and has many notable financial acknowledgements and awards, both academically and commercially. The artist developed his art style and traveled worldwide enriching his artistic skill. In 1992, he began to work with hardwoods and then evolved from assemblages to sculptures. His artwork is on display in Egypt, Europe, the United States as well as Uruguay.
The artist explained of this piece, “They are old, hard woods, casually observed, which I attempt to rescue from oblivion. Thus, they come to be the central material of the works. The dominating woods, lapacho and curupay, are combined with the likewise guarani ibiraptta and ibiraro woods. The richness of their texture, colour, consistency, and weight tempt me to use them plastically, while at the same time they impose the commitment to do so sensitively.”
The sculpture was presented by Uruguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Didier Opertti Badan, to the United Nations and Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette accepted it on behalf of the organization. Dr. Badan also served as the president of the United Nations General Assembly from 1998 – 1999.
Madame Fréchette was the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations during 1998 – 2005. She said of the piece, “It shows us that no matter how weathered and bruised the shell is by work and life, the soul within remains intact if the material is solid enough. The world, and the United Nations, has withstood many stains and scars over the past several decades. But the soul of the United Nations Charter remains intact - because it is made of sturdy stuff: of the determination of the peoples of the world to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war; to reaffirm faith in human rights; and to promote better standards of life in larger freedom.”