Application N° 42 / ARK OF RETURN Rodney LEON, États-Unis · APPLICATION Nr 042 (Among 310 candidates/ 84 countries) ARK O RTURN / L’AR H U RTOUR Rodney LEON, USA / HAITI MATERIAL:

PRIZE WINNER PRIZE WINNER "ARK OF RETURN" Rodney LEON

Materials: Granite, steel, stainless steel/ Granit, acier, inox Size: 80 feet long, 25 feet wide and 30 feet high/

24 ,4 m L x 7, 6 m l x 9 m H

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION DESIGN COMPETITION PERMANENT MEMORIALPERMANENT MEMORIAL TO HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERYTO HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERY

CONCOURS INTERNATIONAL / MÉMORIAL PERMANENT de l'ESCLAVAGECONCOURS INTERNATIONAL / MÉMORIAL PERMANENT de l'ESCLAVAGE

USA + HAÏTI

In partnership with,In partnership with, introduceintroduce

APPLICATION Nr 042 (Among 310 candidates/ 84 countries) ARK OF RETURN / L’ARCHE DU RETOURARK OF RETURN / L’ARCHE DU RETOUR Rodney LEON, USA / HAITIRodney LEON, USA / HAITI MATERIAL: MATERIAL: Granite, steel, stainless steel SIZESIZE: 80 feet long, 25 feet wide and 30 feet high/ 24 ,4 m L x 7, 6 m l x 9 m H

2

“The Ark of Return” is a symbolic, spiritual space and object where one may interact and pass “The Ark of Return” is a symbolic, spiritual space and object where one may interact and pass through for acknowledgement, contemplation, meditation, reflection, healing, education and through for acknowledgement, contemplation, meditation, reflection, healing, education and transformationtransformation..

STATEMENT : “The Ark of Return” is proposed to acknowledge the tragedy of the estimated 20-25 million people of African

descent that lost their lives over a period of 400 years during the Transatlantic “triangular” Slave trade. Its monumental form

of an abstracted “vessel” references the slave ships and acknowledges the tragedy of the Middle Passage. Powerful

images illustrating the cross section of a slave ship, a transatlantic map, cultural symbols and quotes shall be

engraved on the interior and exterior of the monument and shall serve to graphically illustrate the magnitude, duration and

scale of this tragedy.

“The Ark of Return” shall give form and voice to the untold stories, memories, sacrifices and contributions of millions

of African souls that contributed to humanity…

It shall serve to educate future generations about the impact

of slavery in its historic and contemporary manifestations

lest we forget.

ProfileProfile

Rodney LEON, AIARodney LEON, AIA

Current projects include the Museum of Contemporary African and Diaspora Arts (MOCADA). In addition, Mr. Leon has developed and is partnering with manufacturers to design and implement sustainable “Green” housing development models for emerging markets in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The first such project is the 24 acre, mixed use “Belle Rive” Residential Development in Jacmel, Haiti. In addition, Mr. Leon is involved in a professional collaboration with 3 other architects on efforts to provide transitional housing for displaced families in Haiti through an initiative entitled the “Haiti SOFTHOUSE.”

Mr. Leon received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in 1992 and his Masters of Architecture from Yale University in 1995. He has also been a Visiting Design professor at Pratt Institute School of Architecture from 1998 to 2003. He has served as 2nd Year Design Coordinator for Pratt in 2003 and is currently serving as an Adjunct Professor of Advanced Design since

2009.

EDUCATION: Yale University School of Architecture, New Haven, CT M. Arch (Masters of Architecture) 1995, Pratt Institute School of Architecture, Brooklyn, NY; B. Arch (Bachelor of Architecture) 1992

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: Adjunct Professor, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY; 1998/2003; 2009/ to present: NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, New York, 2010/ to present.

Rodney Leon, founder and principal of Rodney Leon Architects PLLC has an architectural background as a designer on a diversity of building types including housing, churches and transportation projects in the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Leon is the designer of the African Burial Ground Memorial in New York City which is the only National Monument in the United States dedicated to the contributions of people of African descent. Mr. Leon has focused his professional efforts and developed an expertise in modern “Culturally Contextual” design, Master Planning and Mixed Use Housing Development for faith based and international development organizations.

4

APPLICATION Nr 042 ARK OF RETURN / L’ARCHE DU RETOURARK OF RETURN / L’ARCHE DU RETOUR

Rodney Rodney Leon Leon has an architectural background has an architectural background and practice as and practice as a designer on a diversity a designer on a diversity of projects including memorials, housing, churches and cultural institutions in the U.S. of projects including memorials, housing, churches and cultural institutions in the U.S.

and abroad. Mr. Leon is graduated from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in and abroad. Mr. Leon is graduated from Pratt Institute School of Architecture in 1992 1992 and Yale University in and Yale University in 19951995. He then concentrated his studies on the African cultural . He then concentrated his studies on the African cultural

Diaspora and its impact upon contemporary architecture and urban environments. He Diaspora and its impact upon contemporary architecture and urban environments. He served as a teaching assistant for the eminent African art historian professor Robert served as a teaching assistant for the eminent African art historian professor Robert Farris Thompson and spent time living and working in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Mr. Farris Thompson and spent time living and working in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Mr.

Leon focuses his professional efforts and expertise in modern “Culturally Contextual” Leon focuses his professional efforts and expertise in modern “Culturally Contextual” global design. In global design. In 2005 2005 he was awarded the prestigious commission for design and he was awarded the prestigious commission for design and

construction of the African Burial Ground construction of the African Burial Ground in in New York City. Mr. Leon’s current projects New York City. Mr. Leon’s current projects include the design of a Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MOCADA) in include the design of a Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MOCADA) in

Brooklyn, New York and various projects on the island of HaitiBrooklyn, New York and various projects on the island of Haiti..

Rodney LEON,Rodney LEON, USA / HAITI, 1969USA / HAITI, 1969

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION PERMANENT MEMORIALPERMANENT MEMORIAL TO HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERYTO HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERY


5

Application N° 42 / ARK OF RETURN Rodney LEON, Etats-Unis

International Competition for a Permanent International Competition for a Permanent MemorialMemorial to to Honour the Victims of Honour the Victims of Slavery & Transatlantic Slave Trade Slavery & Transatlantic Slave Trade

6

OnOn 3030 SeptemberSeptember 20112011,, UNESCOUNESCO throughthrough itsits “Slave“Slave Route”Route” ProjectProject andand thethe PermanentPermanent MemorialMemorial CommitteeCommittee launchedlaunched anan internationalinternational designdesign competitioncompetition forfor thethe creationcreation ofof aa PermanentPermanent MemorialMemorial atat thethe UnitedUnited NationsNations PlazaPlaza toto honourhonour thethe victimsvictims ofof slaveryslavery andand transatlantictransatlantic slaveslave tradetrade duringduring aa presspress conferenceconference heldheld inin NewNew YorkYork.. ArtistsArtists,, designers,designers, sculptorssculptors andand otherother visualvisual artsarts professionalsprofessionals werewere invitedinvited toto submitsubmit theirtheir proposalsproposals byby 2323 JanuaryJanuary 20122012,, focusingfocusing onon:: ““AcknowledgingAcknowledging thethe TragedyTragedy;; ConsideringConsidering thethe LegacyLegacy;; LestLest WeWe ForgetForget””.. AsAs aa resultresult ofof thethe callcall forfor project,project, 310310 fullfull proposalsproposals werewere submittedsubmitted byby visualvisual artsarts professionalsprofessionals fromfrom 8484 countries,countries, fivefive continents,continents, representingrepresenting overover threethree generationsgenerations.. TheThe participationparticipation ofof 126126 femalefemale contestantscontestants isis toto bebe underlinedunderlined.. AccordingAccording toto thethe guidelinesguidelines terms,terms, UNESCOUNESCO setset upup aa SelectionSelection CommitteeCommittee whichwhich metmet severalseveral timestimes andand shortlistedshortlisted 1616 semisemi--finalistfinalist projectsprojects andand aa reservereserve listlist ofof 44 alternatealternate projectsprojects forfor thethe PhasePhase II ofof thethe competitioncompetition.. TheThe proposalsproposals werewere singledsingled outout forfor theirtheir artisticartistic qualityquality andand pertinencepertinence amongamong thethe 310310 submittedsubmitted applicationsapplications.. TheThe SelectionSelection CommitteeCommittee hadhad anan overviewoverview ofof thethe proposalsproposals andand notednoted thethe bestbest projectsprojects whichwhich metmet thethe selectionselection criteriacriteria.. ThisThis preselectionpreselection waswas thenthen communicatedcommunicated toto thethe PermanentPermanent MemorialMemorial CommitteeCommittee forfor PhasePhase IIII.. TheThe laureatelaureate isis selectedselected amongamong thesethese projectsprojects byby anan InternationalInternational PanelPanel ofof JudgesJudges thatthat firstfirst designateddesignated 77 finalistfinalist applicantsapplicants toto bebe interviewedinterviewed inin NewNew YorkYork.. TheThe grantedgranted artworkartwork waswas proclaimedproclaimed atat thethe endend ofof thethe competitioncompetition inin SeptemberSeptember 20132013 andand awardedawarded aa 5050,,000000 UU..SS.. DollarsDollars endowmentendowment.. ThisThis memorialmemorial willwill assistassist inin fulfillingfulfilling thethe internationalinternational community'scommunity's commitmentcommitment toto honorhonor thethe victimsvictims ofof slavery,slavery, containedcontained inin paragraphparagraph 101101 ofof thethe DurbanDurban DeclarationDeclaration andand ProgrammeProgramme ofof ActionAction asas adoptedadopted inin 20012001 atat thethe WorldWorld ConferenceConference againstagainst Racism,Racism, RacialRacial Discrimination,Discrimination, XenophobiaXenophobia andand relatedrelated IntoleranceIntolerance.. ThisThis competitioncompetition alsoalso highlightshighlights UNESCO'sUNESCO's concreteconcrete contributioncontribution toto thethe yearyear 20112011,, declareddeclared byby thethe UnitedUnited NationsNations asas thethe InternationalInternational YearYear forfor PeoplePeople ofof AfricanAfrican DescentDescent whichwhich alsoalso coincidedcoincided withwith thethe 1010thth anniversaryanniversary ofof thethe DurbanDurban DeclarationDeclaration..



7




8


The Permanent Memorial Committee is chaired byThe Permanent Memorial Committee is chaired by

H.EH.E. . E. Courtenay RATRAYE. Courtenay RATRAY

Ambassador / Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the Ambassador / Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United NationsUnited Nations

Assisted by Assisted by

The Permanent The Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the Mission of Jamaica to the United NationsUnited Nations

Its members are: Brazil, Ghana, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, Suriname, The United Kingdom, The African Union, the Chair of CARICOM, the Chair of the African Group of Ambassadors, the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP), The United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Department of Public Information, The New York Public Library/ Schomburg Center for research in Black Culture, the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee for Elimination of Racism of the NGO Committee on Human Rights, and the Ambassador/ Permanent observer of CARICOM.

The Phase I Pre-Selection Committee

appointed by UNESCO

• Mr. Jean Philippe AKA, HeArt Galerie, Art historian,

Côte d’Ivoire

• Ms. Denise BAX, UNESCO 'City & Creativity', France

• Ms. Brigitte COLIN, Architect, UNESCO, France

• Mr. Joel DREYFUSS, Art collector and chief editor,

Haiti

• Ms. Tania FERNANDEZ de TOLEDO, UNESCO, Spain

• Mr. Franck HOUNDÉGLA, set designer,

museographer, public spaces and heritage designer,

Benin & France

9

The Phase II International Panel of Judges

• Ms. Nadia BAKHURJI, Architect & designer, Saudi Arabia

• Mr. David BOXER, Artist, Chief Curator , Director Emeritus of

the National Gallery of Jamaica

• Mr. Michael A. GOMEZ, New York University, Historian

• Dr. Ashfaq ISHAQ Founder, International Children’s Art

Foundation

• Ms. Dominique FONTAINE, Visual arts expert &

contemporary art curator, Haïti/Canada

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

PERMANENT MEMORIALPERMANENT MEMORIAL TO HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF TO HONOUR THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERY & SLAVERY &

TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADETRADE

The Permanent Memorial Committee and UNESCO wishes to warmly thank all artists and creative applicants who participated in this competition and submitted project proposals "to enshrine the legacy of millions of African captives whose untold stories, memories and

contribution to humanity forever changed the world’s societies", the international artists’ networks which supported this initiative by disseminating the call for project worldwide and the Selection Committee which singled out this preselection.

EXHIBITION CREDITSEXHIBITION CREDITS UNESCO UNESCO –– Division of CultureDivision of Culture

History and Memory for Dialogue SectionHistory and Memory for Dialogue Section The Slave Route ProjectThe Slave Route Project

Ali MoussaAli Moussa--IyeIye

International Competition Coordination & Exhibition conceptInternational Competition Coordination & Exhibition concept Florence Alexis Florence Alexis assisted byassisted by Chris Sacarabany Chris Sacarabany

Special thanks to our Special thanks to our partners & colleagues In New York :partners & colleagues In New York :

The Permanent Memorial CommitteeThe Permanent Memorial Committee Philippe Kridelka & Rochelle RocaPhilippe Kridelka & Rochelle Roca--Hachem, Garnet WilsonHachem, Garnet Wilson

in in Paris Paris Hugues Charnie Ngandeu Ngatta, Khadija Touré, Virginie Accatcha, JeanHugues Charnie Ngandeu Ngatta, Khadija Touré, Virginie Accatcha, Jean--Paul Kersuzan & Rudi SwinnenPaul Kersuzan & Rudi Swinnen

Paris, Paris, March / April 2012 - © 2012 All Rights reserved

United Nations OfficeUnited Nations Office for Partnershipsfor Partnerships

Documents

Application N° 42 / ARK OF RETURN Rodney LEON, États-Unis · APPLICATION Nr 042 (Among 310 candidates/ 84 countries) ARK O RTURN / L’AR H U RTOUR Rodney LEON, USA / HAITI MATERIAL: