Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations

In honor of Greece’s participation in the currently-in-session Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, Sculptor George Petrides presented the sculpture Kore II to Ambassador Evagelos Sekeris, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, in the presence of Minister Sofia Zacharaki. The portrait of a girl was created by the Greek-born "globally renowned sculptor" (Forbes 2022), who is known for the world-traveling exhibition Hellenic Heads as well as his 20 public sculptures in Asia, Europe and the USA.

George Petrides stated: “I am honored to present my sculpture to the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations in honor of my country’s participation in CSW.  I would like to thank Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, the Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, for taking this initiative.  The title of this piece, Kore, refers to the ancient Greek sculptures of that name, depicting young women, as well as the modern Greek word for daughter. The first reference parallels my interest in Greek history and culture, the subject of the six Hellenic Heads, the exhibition traveling to ten cities in 2022-2027. The second reference is literal: my daughter Sofia, then twelve years old, posed for this piece. My intention, after examining some darker periods in Greek history, was to conclude the Hellenic Heads series in the present, with a young person looking to her future with optimism and light. My broader message is that no matter how difficult periods of life may be, we can always believe in, and therefore create, a better future.” Consistent with the UN’s commitment to sustainable development, Kore II is made of plastic recycled from medical packaging, sourced from Holland.