Can landmines and war ever be eliminated from the world? The silent confession of Geneva’s broken tripod chair

Reported and photographed by Reporter You Ru / from Switzerland

Switzerland Geneva is Switzerland's second-largest city, located in the French-speaking region at the southern tip of the country, and Geneva, known for its clock-making industry, is also the location of the headquarters of many international organizations, such as the European headquarters of the United Nations, the International Red Cross, and others. If visitors come to Geneva, there is one place“The Broken Tripod Chair”that must not be missed. The tripod chair standing in front of the European headquarters of the United Nations serves to remind the world to “live with dignity.”


▲ The tripod chair in Geneva.
%Jia Po Ji, Han Re? Zhi Yi Ling Yu. Yi Jia, Huo? Fen Jie Yu.
 

The massive tripod chair stands 12 meters tall and weighs 5 tons. At first glance, it appears to be an interesting piece of large-scale installation art. However, its title “Live with Dignity” commemorates those who have lost their lives or been injured by landmines. It was also created in 1997 by Swiss artists Daniel Berset and Louis Genève to mark the entry into force of the landmine protocol. Xie Junjie of Yijia Travel Agency explained that this tripod chair not only represents the disability of a landmine victim who lost a leg, but also serves as a reminder to oppose landmines and advocate for peace.

The 1997 Mine Ban Convention originally intended to display the tripod chair for only three months, but due to multiple countries signing the treaty, its exhibition has been extended until today. The single leg of the tripod chair, pointing upwards into the air, shows an irregular shape as if shattered by a bomb, set against the blue sky and white clouds, evoking a quiet yet indifferent sense of sorrow. This simple yet highly symbolic piece of installation art also expresses the world’s longing for peace, deeply moving all who see it.

%Ji Fu? Pang Wen Ei Yi Hui, Bu Hui Huai You Xian Xiang Bu Tong.