Exhibit Exalts Human Rights

A graphic depicting a man hanging from his wrists by a red rope next to the words ‘Freedom from slavery, torture, and degrading treatment’ was projected onto Widener Library last night as part of a series of black, white, and red words and images in filmmaker Julie Mallozi’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The ‘60.30.1’ light installation by Mallozzi begins a week’s worth of events celebrating the anniversary. The piece, whose title is a reference to the 60 years since the 30 articles of the document were ratified, will be displayed by 11 projectors for the next two days on buildings at the Law School, the Kennedy School, the Science Center, and the Holyoke Center.

A year’s worth of collaboration went into the University-wide commemoration that includes more than 13 events throughout the week.

During the light installation last night, the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones performed and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith and Professor Jacqueline Bhabha made opening remarks.

“We celebrate the 60th anniversary in the shape of a completely original and inspirational artistic piece,” said Smith before he symbolically flipped the switch to turn on the projectors.

The event also featured a short presentation by the student group The Harvard College Human Rights Advocates (HCHRA), in which members read articles from the declaration and described how they had attempted to uphold those rights for others. The HCHRA is an undergraduate umbrella organization that promotes international human rights advocacy and research.

“Especially given the horrible weather conditions, there was a nice turnout and everyone was enthusiastic,” said Robert J. Ross ’09, vice president of advocacy for HCHRA and a singer with the Veritones.

The celebration was sponsored by the University Committee on Human Rights Studies (UCHRS), the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, and the Film Study Center.

“This artist shows how subversive, difficult, and awkward talking about human rights still is,” said Bhabha, the director of UCHRS. “We are inscribing on our University the principles and inspiration of our work.”

A goal of the events is to show students how they can participate in human rights work, according to Cynthia J. Mesh, assistant director of UCHRS.

The capstone event will be tomorrow’s ‘Sixty Years of Human Rights: The Idea and the Reality’ panel featuring University Professor Amartya Sen and Medical School Professor Paul Farmer, which is moderated by University President Drew G. Faust.

“As Harvard students, we’re in a privileged position to act on behalf of human rights,” said Quinnie Lin ’09, co-president of HCHRA. “The light installation was phenomenal. It will educate the Harvard community about what’s in the Declaration, especially because it’s artistically rendered and projected onto a public space.”

—Staff writer Brittany M. Llewellyn can be reached at bllewell@fas.harvard.edu.