Painting for Human Fraternity: a portrayal of peaceful coexistence

Ahead of the International Day of Human Fraternity, young people from all over the world gather to paint famous masterpieces, feeling united by the common feeling of freedom as they each interpret colour in their own way.

By Francesca Merlo - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Live painting as a portrayal of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. This was the concept behind a session organised by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence in collaboration with "We Love Art" in the Emirati pavilion at the Dubai 2020 Expo.

It is one of many events taking place during a Festival organised by the Ministry and the High Commission of Human Fraternity in the lead up to International Day of Human Fraternity, marked on 4 February.

From looking to painting

Around 20 young people gathered to replicating their own versions of the same three works of art.

All three are famous artworks, and are therefore all uniting, said Zahra Khalifa, from the Ministry of Tolerance. Just as people travel from all over the world to visit the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, people from all over the world gathered to paint with her on Wednesday afternoon.

Art as a universal language

Denise Schmitz from the Netherlands, founder of "We Love Art", advised some of the artists on how to give more depth to Mona’s smile, and explained how art acts as a bridge between cultures.

“Colour connects us! And it makes us free, breaking us away from boundaries and self-imposed rules. It knows no religion or gender. When we paint we are all the same and our differences are our strengths.”

Zahra pointed out that “art is a universal language” and that through this live painting session they aimed to “extend tolerance to all living beings.”

Painting for humanity

"Live painting for human fraternity" was the name of the event, with the Arabic word “lamasat” (to touch) as its slogan. It means being in contact and feeling each other, explained Zahra, “and here we do this through art.”

Document on Human Fraternity

The live painting session did in fact promote the themes announced in the Document of Human Fraternity, signed on 4 February by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Pope Francis: peace, freedom of belief, tolerance, ethics, protection of places of worship, and so many more.

The ongoing festival, with the work of these young people of different religions, seeks to embody and portray the concept of Human Fraternity and tolerance…

This article was originally published on Vatican News website. Please click here to read the full text and listen to the report.