Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd: Non-Violence, 1980

Non-Violence is a bronze sculpture of a revolver created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. The revolver’s barrel is tied in a knot, making it impossible to fire. The best-known version of the sculpture is installed outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Reuterswärd created the sculpture in 1980 shortly after the murder of his friend John Lennon.

The Museum of Sketches in Lund holds a sketch of the firearm on which Reuterswärd noted that his grief following the murders of Lennon and Bob Crane inspired the work.

Since 1993, the sculpture has served as the symbol of The Non-Violence Project, a nonprofit organization working with violence prevention and social change through educational programs.

The sculpture is part of the collection at SSE through a generous donation from Jessica and Mats Lederhausen.

Photo: Mikael Olsson