Through paintings, photography, sculpture, installation, digital arts, dance and music, the International Contest for Minority Artists transforms the lakeside promenade into an open-air exhibition celebrating the role of minority artists as human rights defenders. Held from 31 July to 31 August, the exhibition showcases the work of 30 laureates of the 2022-2025 editions of the contest, whose art bears witness to lived experiences that may otherwise go unnoticed.
“Art is an essential dimension of human rights work. While strengthening the rule of law and uncovering facts are vital, lasting change requires compassion,” said UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, on the occasion of the 3 August inauguration along Quai Wilson. “And that compassion is nurtured by works of art. They keep us from becoming numb to suffering and injustice; they reject the dehumanization of others. Art is also a powerful tool for prevention, human rights education, and the preservation of historical truth.”
Structured around four themes (Statelessness; Intersectionality; Memory in the Present; Belonging, Place and Loss), the exhibition pairs each artwork with the artist’s personal story, revealing the experiences that inspire their creative practice and their commitment to defending human rights.
With the use of distinct creative methods, these human rights defenders demonstrate the ability of art to convey strong sentiment and mobilize an audience. Through mediums such as painting, dance, photography, sculpture, and music, art becomes a means to preserve, witness, and resist cultural erasure, while asserting a strong presence in the public sphere.
Co-curated with the support of Roma artist and 2025 laureate Sead Kazanxhiu, this exhibition is a collaboration between UN Human Rights and the Ville de Genève, along with partner organizations Freemuse, Minority Rights Group, and the Centre des Arts of the International School of Geneva.
For this exhibition, UN Human Rights worked in partnership with the Embassy of Foreign Artists (EoFA), based in Geneva, to organize the first residency of the “Minority Artists for Human Rights” initiative, with the goal of supporting minority artists in their expressive endeavours.
EoFA, founded in 2012, offers residencies, designs research programs, and ensures that foreign artists have optimal working conditions in Geneva. In their words, they aim to promote a “genuine appreciation for hosted projects and people behind them.”Creating spaces for minority artists
An artistic residency has accompanied the exhibition this year, with four past laureates participating: Chuu Wai from Myanmar, Bakri Moaz from Sudan, Alia Al-Saadi, of Palestinian descent born in Syria, and Tufan Chakma from Bangladesh.
Participating artists
Zahra Hassan Marwan, Jean Philippe Moiseau, Abdullah, Amin Taasha, Naser Moradi, Mawa Rannahr, Babatunde “Tribe” Akande, Bianca Batlle Nguema, Mehdi Rajabian, Karthoum Dembele, Aluízio de Azevedo Júnior, Tufan Chakma, Andrew Wong, Elahe Zivardar, Bianca Broxton, Joel Pérez Hernández, Francis Estrada, Laowu Kuang, Jayatu Chakma, André Fernandes, Maganda Shakul, Chuu Wai, Alia Al Saadi, Sead Kazanxhiu, Darwin Cruz, Lindxee Collins, Bakri Moaz, Mariri Tavares, Emanoel Saravá, and Kheder Abdulkarim.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 