The Knotted Gun sculpture has been gifted to Belfast by the Olsson family from Sweden and it will be on permanent display at Girdwood Community Hub in North Belfast.
Belfast now joins a number of cities including New York, Tokyo, Stockholm, Cape Town and Berlin that host a permanent sculpture of The Knotted Gun – an international symbol of peace, created by the Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd for his friend John Lennon after he was shot outside his home in New York in 1980.
The bronze sculpture was accepted on behalf of the city by Lord Mayor John Finucane at an unveiling ceremony at Girdwood Community Hub.
There are over 30 locations around the world hosting one of the most recognisable symbols of peace which is supported internationally by a number of world-famous Global Non-Violence Ambassadors including Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, Lionel Messi and many others.
As owners of Europe’s largest ferry company Stena Line, which operates seven ships and three routes to Britain from Belfast Harbour, the Olsson family has a long-standing relationship with Belfast and is committed to supporting lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
Stena Line owner Dan Sten Olsson said Northern Ireland is a very important region to the company.
“Since we moved our ferry services to Belfast in 1995, I personally and our company have established a bond with the city of Belfast and its people. Having business interests around the world, I can say that Belfast is a good place to do business and hopefully we can leave a positive and lasting legacy – and not only on the commercial front,” he said.
“We’re investing in new ships, and continually supporting tourism and trading here but we’re also committed to being a good corporate citizen, so we’re very happy and proud today to donate this iconic peace sculpture, which was originally founded in Sweden, as a gift to Belfast and its citizens,” he added.
Mr Olsson said the unveiling of The Knotted Gun will also herald the start of a process of greater engagement for Belfast with the Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF).
“Perhaps there are examples and inspirations from around the world that we can harness here today to hopefully play a small part in this continuing journey for Belfast and Northern Ireland,” he added.
Lord Mayor John Finucane said The Knotted Gun is a world-renowned symbol of peace and non-violence and he added that he was delighted that Belfast will be joining a very vibrant and engaged family of cities around the globe in hosting this iconic sculpture.
“The siting of the sculpture is also hugely significant as Girdwood Community Hub has been developed as a shared space as part of our city’s ongoing journey on the path of peace and reconciliation.
“On behalf of the city of Belfast and all its citizens, I would like to sincerely thank Mr Olsson and his family for making this enormously generous and inspiring donation. It’s an honour to accept it and I trust its presence here will be an inspiration for generations to come,” he added.
Jan Hellman, Chairman and Co-founder of the Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF), said the symbol is a universal message of peace and non-violence and that it speaks louder than words, crossing all cultures, religions and ages.
“It is an honour to welcome Belfast as an official ‘City for Peace’. Also, a warm thank you to Stena Line, a perfect and very serious partner in our quest to stem violence around the world,” added the Chairman.