Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd was a Swedish artist and writer, best known for creating The Knotted Gun, also called Non-Violence. A close friend of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, he was asked by Ono to create an artistic tribute following Lennon’s tragic death in 1980. The result was The Knotted Gun, a sculpture that has since become one of the world’s most recognized symbols of peace and non-violence.
During his lifetime, Lennon was a strong advocate for peace, using his music to spread a message of unity and non-violence. Reuterswärd’s sculpture was created in honor of that vision, turning Lennon’s ideals into a powerful artistic statement. Lennon’s song Imagine captured this dream.
"Imagine all the people living life in peace
You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I am not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one."
Beyond The Knotted Gun, Reuterswärd was one of Sweden’s most internationally acclaimed artists. He was also a prolific writer, known for avant-garde works such as Cornering the Discipline on Board and Prix Nobel in the 1960s. His memoir Look, I Am Invisible, published in 1988, provided insight into his life and creative journey.
His legacy lives on through The Knotted Gun, which stands as a universal symbol of peace and serves as the foundation for The Non-Violence Project.
The Non-Violence Project Foundation is a non-profit organization with special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
