Banner of Peace – By Nicholas Roerich (1874-1947)
Painted in 1931
Why do we celebrate the Universal Day of Cultureculture is not genetically inherited, it is shared, learned, and dynamic- never static globally on April 15th of each year? What is significant about the above painting, and who is Nicholas Roerich? Who knew that there was a “Treaty on the Protection of Artistic and Scientific Institutions and Historic Monuments?” The “treaty” is also known as the Roerich Pact.
Nicholas Roerich is a Russian painter who began to think about safeguarding cultural sites after WWI. He wanted cultural sites to be preserved over military necessity. There are conservationists, wildlife biologists, and ecologists who work alongside governments to prevent animal extinctions. Extinction of culture, however, does not seem to reach the headlines as often. Roerich was very concerned about cultural extinction due to the destruction of historical monuments and works of artthe expressive or application of human creative skill and imagination in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, or in music, literature, or dance; art is created primarily for beauty and emotional power; and "holds art is anything the viewer or listener finds aesthetically pleasing." during the First World WarWar: A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.. He thought cultural extinction awareness should be dealt with on an international level.
Roerich proposed that a document should be drawn up to create protection of artistic, cultural, and historical monuments, as well as educational institutions in time of war. He wanted to create a league of observers that would make an inventory of significant cultural monuments in each country, which would be declared neutral during a war or conflict. His painting of the Banner of Peace was to be placed on such cultural artifactsA human-made object of historical or cultural interest, characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage. More, much like fielda place where on location research is conducted; also known as fieldwork, or participant observation on various sites medical personnel who are protected by the banner of the Red Cross. Roerich’s painting above portrays a red circle with three red balls inside, on a white background, which is an international symbolsomething that stands for, represents, or suggests another thing - human culture is symbolic More known as the “Red Cross of Culture.” It was officially recognized by the Roerich Pact of April 15, 1935.
April 15, 2026, will commemorate the Roerich Pact to prevent cultural extinction. It was signed by 21 nations in Washington, DC, to protect cultural treasures, during both war and peace. The philosophy, or Pax Cultura (Cultural Peace) behind the pact is that “Ascension of Culture” can “cease armed conflicts and foster peace, bridging gaps between nations.” The pact is “relevant today as cultural heritagesomething that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; ancestors may be considered a kind of heritage; also traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation; something passed down from preceding generations continues to be destroyed in modern conflicts.” The Pax Cultura, underneath the red circle, “. . . advocates that protecting the arts, sciences, and education is the key to civilizationa highly developed and advanced human society, associated with population density, writing and record-keeping, education, art, science, and complex political and social institutions.”
Here are some key quotes in the pact that recognize the Precedence of Culture over Destruction:
- “Where there is Culture, there is Peace.” Emphasizes that culture is a proactive tool for peace, not just a byproduct of it.
- “The defense of cultural objects is more important than the use or destruction of that culture for military purposes.” This idea challenges military strategies that risk heritage sites.
- “Culture is the cumulation of highest Bliss, of highest Beauty, of highest Knowledge.”
The website <itsallaboutculture.com> advocates for cultural connections of all people in all places. It is about lifelong learning to understand culture and the enculturationlearning culture begins at birth; it is both conscious and unconscious learning, and both informal (within families) and formal (within institutions, as in church, or school), but most importantly it is passed down from generation to generation process to which all human beings are subject from birth. Aspects of culture are the true concepts of diversitythe state of being diverse or different, variety and/or diversity is more than exhibiting "different" outward appearances; diversity is often much more about cultural differences, more than outward appearances.
