The Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Otávio Roth

INTRODUCTION

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) was the international community's response to the atrocities committed during World War II. Far more than a position on the past, the document proclaims universal moral principles that transcend the field of law and inspire us in the quest for a dignified future for all.

This year, while the world faces the greatest health crisis of the last hundred years, characterized by the loss of human lives, the deepening of inequalities, of socioeconomic exclusion and of discrimination in its various forms, we celebrate the Declaration’s anniversary with the certainty that human rights are the indisputable horizon of the 21st century.

We will only be able to rebuild a post-COVID-19 world that is more resilient, fair and sustainable - for us and for future generations - through firm measures to combat human rights violations and by strengthening the spirit of solidarity and dialogue.

December 10th is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights in the reconstruction of the world we want, the need for global solidarity, and our interconnection and shared humanity as human beings.

It is based on this understanding that the Otávio Roth Collection and the Vladimir Herzog Institute are coming together, with the support of the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo, to launch the exhibition “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights by Otávio Roth”, presenting the artist’s view of the Charter in an accessible and sensitive manner.

A multimedia artist, Roth realized at a young age that human rights were the synthesis of humanity's noblest aspirations. Political engagement and the interest in providing people with space for expression and dialogue inspired the conception of participatory art installations in the early 1980s.

Roth believed that culture should be geared toward everyone and be emanated from everyone's expression. This vision, present in all his work, can be perceived here by his commitment to expand access to the Declaration, transforming the articles’ content into graphic works that invite a plural audience to read them.

His work gradually takes effect, making it possible for human rights to be strengthened as a common denominator of the aspirations of the most diverse individuals. It is therefore from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ content and the generous and open manner in which Roth portrays the Articles that we express our sincere wishes for a more welcoming and just future for all people everywhere.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN BRAZIL TODAY

Rogério Sottili, executive director of the Vladimir Herzog Institute

In promoting this exhibition, the Vladimir Herzog Institute (Instituto Vladimir Herzog, IVH) celebrates the 72nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and reaffirms its commitment to the struggle through dialogue and through the appreciation of Brazilian culture. We believe that art has the potential to raise awareness about the exercise of citizenship, given that access to culture itself is a human right. In the last decades, Brazil has achieved fundamental rights that increasingly encompass the principles guided by the UDHR, of which our country is a signatory.

In the Institute’s view, however, our democracy today is undergoing a process that breaks with these achievements through the escalation of violence, threats to freedom of expression, apology for torturers, the criminalization of social movements and the rise of hate speech. It is a challenge that we, as an organized civil society, must resist as we forge ahead in the guarantee of human rights.

It is to defend and re-signify these rights that we share this unprecedented artistic and educational content, which sensitively disseminates the importance of the Declaration’s articles, in our profile of the Arts&Culture platform. The woodcut collection by the artist Otávio Roth that is exhibited here is able to inspire understanding of the UDHR's precious content in audiences of all ages. The illustrations of the 30 articles have been on permanent display at UN headquarters in New York, Geneva and Vienna since 1981 and can now be seen by individuals around the globe. This exhibition is thus also a means to mobilize us to continue making our way toward democracy’s compass, where human rights are the north for which we aim.

The Vladimir Herzog Institute is grateful for the longstanding partnership with the Otávio Roth Collection, which has dedicated itself with distinction to bringing the renowned work of this Brazilian artist to the world as a way to promote the debate on human rights. We also publicly thank the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, for her historic salute at this exhibition’s inauguration, a distinguished milestone for all those who fight for human rights in Brazil. And finally, we thank Google for its constant support to our mission and for making essential channels available for us to reflect upon human rights in the world.

This exhibition is therefore an invitation from the Vladimir Herzog Institute for us to reflect collectively on the cycles of historical violence in our country and to strive for a culture of peace. It is also an invitation to remember our commitment to democratic values, to reaffirm our tireless struggle in the face of injustice, and to mobilize for the continuous defense of the human rights established in the Declaration.

To find out more about the Declaration’s history and importance, click on the thumbnail of the piece to access information.

And click as well on the thumbnail of the image to access more information about Otávio Roth.

Roth produced artistic collections on the Declaration’s content in different languages and employing different techniques. Access our Arts&Culture profile to see the exhibition entitled “Human Rights as art - Otávio Roth's paper works”, with the series of articles in Portuguese (pulp painting technique).

The engravings were printed on artisanal cotton paper produced by the artist himself. Roth was a pioneer in the research and production of handmade paper in Brazil, bringing to the country techniques that he had learned on trips throughout Europe and Asia from 1970 to 1980.