Date: 16. April 2026
Time to read: 2 min
At a time when we are questioning the possibility of achieving peace, the Bird of Hope for Peace delivers a powerful and universal message to the world. This artwork by Slovenian artist Eva Petrič is currently on display near the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Idrija bobbin lace – priceless cultural heritage
In Idrija, where the art of bobbin lace making is passed down from generation to generation, the rich tradition is honoured every summer during the Idrija Lace Festival. A few years ago, the festival organisers invited Eva Petrič to collaborate, which inspired the creation of the Rose of Hope, based on a pattern designed by Maja Svetlik.
A record number of lacemakers from 11 countries responded to the call, creating nearly 1,000 small handmade bobbin lace roses.
-
Names of the makers of the lace roses. Photo: Eva Petrič Archive
Conceived in a place of suffering, and yet also of great hope
The artist wove the roses together to create a new collective work: the Bird of Hope for Peace. As she explains, the idea came to life symbolically at the site of the former Ljubelj forced labour camp, which was a sub-camp of the Mauthausen concentration camp, located on the border between Slovenia and Austria.
"It was during a performative action there that the Bird of Hope for Peace emerged almost spontaneously. I filmed and photographed the process and later created a video for the current exhibition in which I recite the names of every single creator of the individual roses. Of course, it then took a considerable amount of time in the studio to assemble all these almost 1,000 roses into the Bird of Hope and secure them to the supporting mesh."
-
The artist during a performative action at the site of a former concentration camp. Photo: Eva Petrič Archive
On display in New York
Visitors can currently view the artwork in the Narthex Gallery at St Peter's Church in Midtown Manhattan. According to the organisers' estimation, the opening attracted a large crowd, with passers-by frequently stopping to admire the installation. The exhibition space is managed by the Arts and Architecture Conservancy and is open to the public free of charge. The bird will remain on display until the end of July 2026.
The artist believes that New York is an ideal location for such an exhibition.
"New York is a true melting pot of cultures, built by people who arrived here with dreams of creating something new. Within this multicultural fabric, the Bird of Hope becomes a connective symbol. Many immigrants came here in search of peace, and I believe that the hope for peace is the original shared vision that continues to hold this city together."
-
The Bird of Hope for Peace was first exhibited at the Idrija Lace Festival, and later in Vienna and New York. Photo: Robi Poredoš/STA
Eva Petrič hopes that the bird will soon find a new location where it can continue its mission of bringing hope for peace. "That kind of hope is needed everywhere."
