The Universal Peace Project “Eternal Love” is a unique gesture for reconciliation and tolerance aimed at the world. Never before has an approach in this form, or with such profound significance, been taken in the search for peace.

The Project comprises eight interconnected elements:

1. The Eternal Love sculpture by Wojciech Siudmak is the symbol of the Project, created in 2004 and based on a painting from 1985. The monumental sculpture was unveiled on 31 August 2013 in the centre of Wieluń. The town’s tragic history gives particular meaning to the Project’s message of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
2. World Sculpture Relay among the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities and the Sculpture Museum.
3. Peace Award.
4. Museum of Remembrance and Centre for Cultural Initiatives.
5. Educational Programme: Harmony, Beauty and Peace in Science and Arts.
6. Artistic events promoting the arts, science and the Project’s ideas.
7. Building of promenades with additional sculptures symbolising peaceful coexistence in actively participating cities in Poland and internationally.
8. “Art-mail” Programme.

Painting “ETERNAL LOVE “, beginning of the Project

The various elements of the Project will be phased in gradually, yet creating a cohesive whole, and each is closely connected to the aims of the Project.

The purpose of the Project is to reinforce peace through a worldwide community of nations, striving for understanding, seeking reconciliation and forgiveness. With international cooperation, linking various cities through art will develop the idea of tolerance, harmony and peace. It is our hope that the whole world will recognise the Universal Peace Project. This venture is presided over by the Honorary Committee consisting of eminent individuals from around the world. The Project is under the Honorary Patronage of the Polish National Commission for UNESCO.

A Mock-up of the monument. Sainte-Savine -2013

Installation of the monument cast. Kielce, 2013.

Installation of the Eternal Love sculpture on the pedestal

The sculpture Eternal Love embodies a symbol of harmony, beauty and peace. The artwork of Wojciech Siudmak portrays two planets in close proximity to one another. The planets represent the faces of a man and a woman suspended in the Cosmos, united in their orbits creating the symbol of infinity. This anthropomorphization of the image of the Cosmos symbolises harmony of the universe, expressing the idea of beauty and understanding. The sculpture carries a deep philosophical message for countries and nations, that are united internationally in striving to maintain peace and tolerance. Set on a tall plinth, the bronze sculpture, which is over 4.5 m high, expresses the artist’s characteristic cosmic vision of renaissance precision and beauty. The monument was unveiled in Wieluń in August 2013 between City Hall and Kazimierzowski Castle.

An essay by J.-C. Dunyach, containing a philosophical message of the work, and a text by Professor Frank Wilczek, referring to a scientific vision of cosmic harmony, will later be added to the monument. Texts will be translated into various languages and cast on a bronze plaque.

The Eternal Love sculpture will be set in a granite promenade, which will display star constellations and the Solar System. A se- lection of constellations will depend on the location of the promenade. A mosaic of light spots will highlight the actual star constellations as seen above the promenade. The promenade’s architectonic idea was designed by Wojciech Siudmak and the star and planetary system were developed by astronomers from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and conform to the universal vision and message of the Project. A similar promenade can be built in a city in Poland or elsewhere in the world. The ceremonial unveiling of the sculpture Eternal Love in Wieluń on 31 August 2013 launched the start of the World Sculpture Relay among members of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities.

The Museum project

Project of future culture-integration area in Kielce.

The World Sculpture Relay was started with the official unveiling of Wojciech Siudmak’s Eternal Love sculpture in Wieluń. The second cast of the artwork will be passed on – as in a relay – to another city, a member of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities. The city will entrust the mission of creating a new sculpture, reflecting the idea of peace, to a selected artist. Following its unveiling, a second cast of the sculpture will be passed on to the next City of Peace, whereas the third will go to the Sculpture Museum. The Sculpture Museum will gradually be enriched by successive sculptures. These sculptures as links in the chain of peace will connect various world cities through art. This international exchange of artworks will help establish and develop open air sculpture museums in Poland and in other countries.

“Etrenel Love” peace prize award ceremony

The Universal Peace Project “Eternal Love” promulgates the idea of tolerance, understanding, cooperation, solidarity and harmony through art as a universal means of communication and a medium for emotions. The Peace Award represents the intel- lectual values and message of the Project; its exceptional moral and historical justification. The symbol of the Peace Award is a gilt bronze statuette – a miniature of the Eternal Love sculpture. This symbolic prize is conferred annually by an international jury to individuals devoted to activities for world peace. The first Peace Award was presented to Wojciech Kilar, the world renowned Polish composer, a marvellous man and a great artist, the second one, next year, to Jan Tombiński, UE Ambassador in Kiev. In 2015 Rémi Brague – professor of the Sorbonne and LMU Munich. Photo gallery from the gala of presenting the Peace Award can be seen on www.wiecznamilosc.org.

Museum of Remembrance and Centre for Cultural Initiatives

The Museum of Remembrance and Centre for Cultural Initiatives will be established in a Polish city. It will not only be a place of remembrance, but also an expression of courage and determination in promoting the idea of peace through art and the intel- lect. It will be a place where academics and intellectuals meet annually. Participants in these meetings will be able to share their reflections on experiments and their latest achievements, targeted at peacefully exploiting human thought, whereas inter- national cooperation within the scope of the Project will enable the exchange of experiences and developments in their work. Centres based on similar criteria may be created in other world cities participating in the Universal Peace Project “Eternal Love”.

Educational Programme: Harmony, Beauty and Peace in Science and Arts

The Educational Programme: Harmony, Beauty and Peace in Science and Arts developed by the SIUDMAK ARKANA XXI Foundation will constitute a fixed element consolidating and refining the various stages of the Universal Peace Project “Eternal Love”. The programme embraces a wide range of issues – from art to culture and science. Using modern methods and attractive forms of lecturing at every stage of learning, the educational programme will focus special attention on the idea of peaceful coexistence. It will support the work of those participating with their own texts, musical and artistic accomplishments, and will provide information about significant discoveries made by outstanding academics.

“Etrenel Love” peace prize award ceremony

Building new promenades, in Poland and abroad, with their subsequent original sculptures symbolising peaceful coexistence, will create “Centres integrated around the idea of the Project” and will have particular meaning for the younger generation. Locations will be carefully chosen for their high cultural and artistic value and will become part of a city’s walkways and places of interest and reflection. Apart from that, they will be identifiable with the Project around the world and will enhance its dynamic progress. These centres of integration will provide further opportunities for international cooperation, integration and cultural exchanges.

Art-Mail – Artists Illustrate Peace

The “Art-mail” Programme brings together numerous Polish and foreign artists who by illustrating envelopes create their own messages of peace. After all, a letter remains a universal and classic form of communication. Its graphic illustrated form is intel- ligible and available to everyone. The envelopes are presented during exhibitions around the world.

Preparatory sketches for the creation of a silver piece

On 28 August 2009 the National Bank of Poland issued a silver commemorative coin with a denomination of PLN 10.00 (standard Ag 925/1000, Brilliant Uncirculated quality, 32.00 mm diameter, 14.14 g weight, volume: 100,000 coins). The reverse shows styled images of three Junkers Ju 87 Stuka planes displayed against a background of bombs falling from a cloudy sky.

Between the layers of cloud there is a styled image of the City Hall with the Cracow Gate in Wieluń. At the top reads a semi- circular inscription: WIELUŃ – 1^ST SEPTEMBER 1939. The coin was designed by Wojciech Siudmak. Since publishing a series of postcards, talks are ongoing with the Polish Post Office regarding a series of postage stamps to commemorate the Project.

Extract from the comic

A comic is a popular form of story telling. By using drawings in successive freeze frames it effortlessly introduces the reader to the message of the Project. The story told is of two tales: “Genesis” by Wojciech Siudmak and “The Sign Makers” by Jean-

-Claude Dunyach. The central story is enriched by details of World War II, including the tragic events at Guernica, Wieluń and Hiroshima. In English editions the emphasis will be on events that took place relative to that country. This script adaptation was written by Maciej Parowski. The drawings, according to Wojciech Siudmak’s sketches and advice, were illustrated by Jacek Kowalski.

The inauguration of the Eternal Love monument and presentation of the first Peace Award are now part of our history. Activities will continue as the Universal Peace Project develops.