GALL
Art and Design as a tribute to the first Nobel prize for Peace: Jean Henry Dunant
“Normally, the genius does not rise as peaceful ruler; he does not open a path except through thousands of obstacles; it is long unknown, violently attacked and often denied by a whole half of its century.” (Frank Liszt)
JHD Dunant Hotel is a tribute to Jean Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, the volounteer organization conceived in Castiglione delle Stiviere, which supports the values of peace, unity among peoples and universality.
A Hotel-Museum that wants to be the voice of “The continuity of his great thought”, Dunant’s love message for the world.
“Waving Flag” Reception Desk – concrete and resin sculpture – E. Preti
The reception desk represents the Red Cross’s flag, which waves in the wind. It is the starting point for the visit at JHD Dunant Hotel.
It is the universal symbol of brotherhood and neutrality, and the emblem of Henry Dunant’s thought.
“There is a snake in the meadow”
“The conflict between Sacred and Profane, the creeping movement of the snake represents the tormented path that leads to salvation. From evil to good danger is a constant.” E. Preti
The contrast between good and evil, the cross and the snake, Sacred and Profane. This is what is perceived while entering JHD Dunant Hotel. Evil is present, but good will prevail and triumph.
The Island of Thought – The stodgy critic
This art container represents a challenge to the traditional places of art enjoyment, a different aesthetic approach to the enjoyment of the work of art.
In two words: contextualization and deconstructivism.
“Spiral Table”
Only one table so that guests can tear down interpersonal barriers and be all brothers and sisters.
30 – Religious activism
At the age of 18 years Dunant, following tradition of Calvinistic family, formally joined evangelical movement. He was always very active from an early age and was a member of Societèd’Aumones, which ran the works of charity in l’Union Chretienne de Genève and YMCA – Young Men’s Christian Association.
20 – Decompression Room
This place gives him the ability to assimilate best brains, conceiving himself and creating more! He wants to instigate thought and action of destruction of a person. It is a pause that brings you back here in time when you were a child.
10 – Attack Button
Dunant was a person with great charisma, with a particular magnetism and an insatiable appetite for relations with other people. He was delighted and able to engage with all of those who contacted with him.
46 – Network Break
The ambition of economic and trade growth in political-cultural and multi-racial integration seemed to be more and more every day. But they had an unattainable goal because they do not respect the basic rules of living together. We find ourselves in a situation (which perhaps would have been avoided if Dunant had built villages in Africa, exploiting the land and its resources) in which the inconvenience and difficulties have exceeded all limits. But the actions of International Red Cross in a bearer of cares and relief will be always alive.
38 – The Struggle for Survival
The force of two animals against each other in fierce struggle of achieving the objective will inevitably lead to a victory of one of them. The superiority is not only sanctioned by a greater physical strength or cunning strategy but also determination and willingness to sacrifice. We want to celebrate the indomitable strength of will which Dunant had every day of his life. He dealt with any adversity firstly, in Africa then in Europe.
69 – 1859: The Intersection of Fates
On 24 June 1859, Dunant intersected with the battle. What he saw that night turned his world upside down. He came in Castiglione for business but his life changed when he met death. He started to help needy in order to make the war less inhuman.
63 – The Strength of the Snail
The belief in his own ideas and the determination in spreading them find in Dunant a man with tireless tenacity. Like a snail that in its slow journey permeates the entire path which has been followed. Dunant and his idea have taken root slowly and now they continue to assert themselves throughout the world, because when the determination is firm and the idea is powerful not even the gravity can hold you.
71 – Two Tons of Solitude
In 1867 Dunant made a mistake which cost him one million francs and he failed, ending up on the pavement. When he was only 39 years old his life was practically over. He was exiled from Geneva and gradually ousted from the “Genevan committee in aid of the wounded soldiers”. Misery came into his life and mind. Solitude was his only companion. The paradox of the one who fought to prevent that the defeated, the outcast and the wounded could be forgotten is given by the fact that nobody acted for his memory.
77 – The Affirmation of a Symbol
It was only an oral agreement among the fighting sides before (to raise black flags and not to shoot in that direction) in the attempt to respect and save the rescue places which were not adequately equipped and sufficiently trained. Today the emblem of the Red Cross is a symbol of protection and neutrality, internationally recognized; it’s a reality regulated and respected all over the world, aiming at the safeguard of the rights and life of every single human being.
THE AUTHOR (or Design, or Designer) ERMANNO PRETI
Un Designer totalmente svincolato.
Ne fama ne gloria, ma solo la volontà di essere guidati da un’idea e spendersi per realizzarla.
“When I worked at JHD Dunant Hotel, I thought about a space which should have been able to use emotions as a true “search engine”. Everybody has got inside himself different search instruments, everyone has his own route and I like the idea to offer in the spaces that I designed a sort of sentimental navigation that uses visual arts, 3D, sculpture, conceptual graphic, material, to sum up heart and intellect.
Inevitably I thought about a hotel where I could rediscover emotion and pleasure of sharing: far from the estrangement of rooms that are all alike and in which customers only “park” themselves for one night and turn off their brain. On the contrary JHD has been conceived to develop one’s own personal emotion, to arouse curiosity, to question the guest, taking him far from the daily banality and weariness.”