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The Knotted gun

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN LENNON’S VISION OF PEACE

THE « NON-VIOLENCE » SCULPTURE

The original sculpture of The Knotted Gun also known as “Non-Violence” was created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, a friend of John Lennon’s family. Reuterswärd created this piece of art after Lennon’s tragic death as he wanted to honor the singer’s vision of a peaceful world.

AN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF PEACE

THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNITION

Initially exhibited in the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park a bronze version of the sculpture was donated by the Government of Luxembourg and unveiled in 1988 in front of the United Nations’ headquarters.

At the 10th anniversary of the Knotted Gun’s unveiling, Kofi Annan, the UN General Secretary and Nobel Peace Laureate, stated :

“The sculpture Non-Violence has not only endowed the United Nations with a cherished work of art. It has enriched the consciousness of humanity with a powerful symbol that encapsulates, in a few simple curves, the greatest prayer of man which asks not for victory, but for peace.”

Since the first bronze sculpture exhibited in front of the United Nations, replicas have been placed in more than 30 strategic locations around the world: the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (Switzerland), at the Waterfront in Cape Town (South Africa) or in Beirut (Lebanon) to name a few.

A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

FOR ARTISTS

The sculpture has been interpreted by some of the world’s most well-known personalities. Initially part of the Non-Violence For Peace Tour, the Knotted Gun has been - and still is - interpreted by artists, personalities and is a source of inspiration for companies sharing the symbol’s values.

For NVP AMBASSADORS

Most of NVP Ambassadors create their personal version of the sculpture and their replicas are then exhibited at various events and art exhibitions around the world, supporting NVP awareness raising efforts and work.

BRANDS COLLABORATIONS

The Knotted Gun is also an inspiration for various brands generating beautiful and meaningful collections. To know more about the licensing collaborations between NVP and some brands check out BRANDS FOR PEACE.

The Non-Violence Project

The Non-Violence Project is a non-profit organization created in 1993 with the goal of preventing and reducing violence. The organization is headquartered in Switzerland and is active in many countries around the world. Its symbol, the Knotted Gun, is an international symbol of peace. 
To know more about the Foundation’s history click here

Our mission

Our mission is to INSPIRE, MOTIVATE and ENGAGE people to solve conflicts without resorting to any form of violence. Through education and awareness, we measure the impact of our programs and we have a specific focus on youth as we believe in the power of young people as changemakers. 
To know more about the Foundation’s mission click here

How you can support

There are many ways to support our work ! We rely on the generosity of our donors but we also welcome projects’ sponsoring, fundraising events, partnerships of all kinds and much more. 
To find how you or your organization can support the Foundation’s activities around the world, please click here

Contact

The Non-Violence Project Foundation
Avenue Louis Casaï 18
1209 - Geneva
Switzerland
+41 22 940 42 47Contact us
Copyright © 1994 – 2024 The Non-Violence Project Foundation
Conception & development : 
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The Non-Violence Project is a NPO with special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
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