Tsunami: Sea Change for Resilience exhibition launch

Time

17:15 - 19:00 CEST

About

Commemorating the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 20 years on.

On 26 December 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean caused a devastating tsunami that killed around 230,000 people in 14 countries. It remains one of the deadliest disasters in recent human history.

The people who lived through this tragedy are forever changed by it. That is why this year, World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) is honouring the memory of the Indian Ocean Tsunami on its 20th anniversary and highlighting major advances on protecting people since.

This exhibition tells the powerful accounts of tsunami survivors alongside historical and contemporary artworks that capture the sea change of perspective that the aftermath brought, with unprecedented global collaboration on disaster resilience. Everyone must be tsunami ready - recognise the warning signs, be protected by early warning systems and be able to act quickly and get to high ground. We must have resilient infrastructure so livelihoods are not destroyed and build back better when tsunamis hit.

The exhibition will feature photos taken by Matt Porteous and artwork by:

• Amrita Das
• Tsubasa Kato
• Pushpa Kumari
• Manabu Ikeda
• Sidney Régis
• David Alois Schmid
• Yuko Shimizu
• Do Ho Suh
• Artist unknown, Japanese
• Chris Wainwright
• Jave Yoshimoto

Tsunamis are rare but the deadliest of all natural hazards. Ensuring every person is ready in case one strikes is the central objective of this exhibition co-organised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. World Tsunami Awareness Day is kindly supported by the Government of Japan.

The exhibition is launched in 4 locations:

• Manila, Philippines (Mall of Asia, Music Hall) 14 October - 20 October 2024,
• Paris, France (UNESCO HQ fences) 16 October - 1 December 2024,
• Geneva, Switzerland (Palais des Nations, Bar Serpent) 4 November - 17 November 2024,
• New York, USA (UN HQ) 4 November - 17 November 2024.

Geneva Exhibition launch reception, 4 November 2024

Programme

17:15 - 17:35 Opening remarks:

• Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Ms. Ana Luiza Massot Thompson-Flores, Director, UNESCO Liaison Office in Geneva
• H.E. Mr. Oike Atsuyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
• H.E. Ms. Himalee Subhashini Arunatilaka, Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

17:35 - 17:40 Remarks from the exhibition team:

• Ms. Hannah Entwisle Chapuisat, Exhibition Art Curator

17:40 - 17:45 Special Guest:

• Ms. Katrina Kremer, Assistant Professor, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern

17:45 - 19:00 Art Tour and Reception