U.N. Security Council Chamber Still Most Important Room In The World Maintains ‘Norwegian Identity’
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
(UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK) The United Nations Security Council Chamber is, without a doubt, the most important room in the world. The Security Council Chamber is where the U.N.’s most powerful body gathers. The U.N. Security Council is the ultimate global body tasked with maintaining international peace and security. The Council can dispatch peacekeeping forces, impose economic embargoes, arms embargoes, and ultimately opt for collective military action. Since its inauguration in August 1952, the Security Council chamber has maintained a certain “Norwegian Identity.” The Security Council Chamber of the United Nations was designed entirely by Norwegian artists and designers. The revered Security Council chambers was donated by Norway as a “gift” to the U.N. The chambers itself was designed by Norwegian artist Arnstein Arneberg. A large mural by Per Krohg (Norway), symbolizing the promise of future peace and individual freedom, covers most of the east wall. In fact, most of the Security Council’s furnishings have a Norwegian touch as they are from Norway. Although Norway does not have a permanent seat in the UN’s Security Council, the Scandinavian nation’s ‘presence’ looms larger than life in the room, as its chairs and other interior furnishings are all Norwegian.
Large mural by artist Per Krohg (Norway), symbolizing the promise of future peace and individual freedom Is Center Piece of Security Council Chambers
Credit: Wikipedia Public Domain / Oil canvas mural painted by Norwegian artist Per Krohg hangs in U.N. Security Council Chambers depicts a phoenix rising from ashes of World War II.
“The essence of the idea is to give an impression of light, security and joy. The world we see in the foreground is collapsing, while the new world based on clarity and harmony can be built up.”
Norwegian artist Per Krogh, on his Security Council oil canvas mural meaning.
Credit: Norway Permanent Mission to the United States in New York.com / Horseshoe shaped table in Security Council Chamber.
U.N. Security Council Chambers Has A Vivid And Remarkable History
Photo by: Gary Raynaldo / Nov. 6, 2018. Panel discussion with Siri Wolland, (left) Nina Berre, (center)and Sarah Lichtman at U.N. BookShop explored the story behind the original Norwegian design and creation as well as the meticulous renovation of the 20th century’s most remarkable meeting space: U.N. Security Council Chambers.
Siri Wolland, Nina Berre, and Sarah Lichtman collaborated on a new book on the history of the Security Council Chamber entitled:
“The Security Council Chamber”. From its textiles and art to the Chamber’s history as a setting for international politics and diplomacy from 1952 to the present, this book covers a lot of important aspects of the room.
Credit: fpress.no / “The Security Council Chamber” book by contributing authors
Siri Wolland, Nina Berre, and Sarah Lichtman
Author Siri Wooland explained that her angle in the book was to “talk about how the media looked up to the U.N. organization after the war.” Wooland explained that the U.N. was established as an enforcer of peace and a strong international body. Wooland said, however, the U.N. encountered some problems politically and of modernizing over the years. She noted that the international press has been and is still an important user of the Security Council Chamber. Wooland said that more than 60 years after its establishment, the Chambers maintains a good reputation. Wooland also told a bit of history regarding the historic renovation of the Security Council Chambers. She said the construction crews discovered that walls and panels were caked with nicotine due to decades of the Chambers being a literal “smoke-filled room” as many members chain smoked during meetings. Although smoking was banned in New York City establishments in 2003, smoking was still allowed inside the U.N. due to it being on international territory and not bound by any NY State laws.
Architects Of Security Council Chamber Wanted To Maintain The Room As Politically Neutral Space
Sarah Lichtman spoke on the history of the Security Council Chambers with regard with U.N. officials desiring to give the room a distinctively neutral character “to stand the test of time.” Lichtman said:
“This room is more distinctive and respectful room than the others, lending to the type of discussions going on there.”
To that end, Nina Berre explained that Norway was commissioned as the designer of the Security Council Chamber as a known Scandinavian nation known the world over for its political neutrality.
According to Wooland, artist Krogh wanted to make a political statement with his mural. “He wanted to make it a peaceful room. Here were are rising up from a hard time after the war going to a peaceful future,” Wooland said.
For the first time, the Security Council Chamber was completely renovated in 2013. And Norway had a special role in the restoration, according to the Norway Permanent Mission to the UNin New York. Over time the condition of the United Nations campus in New York had deteriorated beyond the point of reasonable repair, requiring a total overhaul rather than floor-by-floor refits. Norway was committed to maintain the Norwegian identity in the UN Security Council Chamber, which Norway donated as a gift to the UN in 1952. After almost 60 years of faithful service, the Security Council Chamber was renovated from 2010-2013, and had its grand re-opening in April 2013. Norway contributed with 5 million USD to the renovation of the Security Council Chamber, and an additional 3.2 million USD to the entire renovation of the United Nations headquarters in New York.
