Expo 2020 - Lennon-inspired gun at Swedish pavilion

A John Lennon-inspired ‘gun’ at the Swedish pavilion is putting the spotlight on the rising incidence of digital violence, which has the potential to scar young minds.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation, which has unveiled a new wooden version of a John Lennon-inspired peace sculpture ‘The Knotted Gun’ on Sunday, says the rise of digital violence has become a global concern.

The Knotted Gun officially called ‘Non-Violence’ was originally created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd as a memorial tribute to his friend John Lennon, who was shot dead outside his New York home in 1980. Now sitting outside the UN headquarters in New York, it is often the first thing visitors see when they enter the compound – an iconic symbol of the UN’s commitment to world peace.

Claes Kalborg, partner at the foundation said, “We are [already] outside the UN headquarters and in a few other places around the world. But this, for us, is kind of a new start with the wooden gun. We have initiated our digital programmes to reach out even broader than we have [until] today – and together with Original Voice Trust, we plan to broaden the footprint; to work [on] non-violence, but also [on] sustainability questions and diversity etc. So, we share a lot of values.”

Kalborg said, digital violence represents “a global challenge”, especially within gaming communities and on social media platforms: “I think that’s where we need to emphasise our efforts. And again, being digital, we have a totally different reach to deal with these matters.”