Washington DC

“WE HAVE TO TURN THE HATE ON THIS PLANET INTO LOVE FOR THIS PLANET.
IF YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO HATE YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO LOVE. AND I HOPE THAT THIS AMAZING SCULPTURE BY MIA WILL HELP US ALL LEARN HOW TO LOVE.”

— EU AMBASSADOR TO THE US STAVROS LAMBRINIDIS


On November 9th 2021, the LOVE HATE sculptures made their first transatlantic appearance in the USA, in the political heart of America, Washington DC.

The event which took place in Farragut Square in association with the EU Delegation to the US, the German Embassy, and The Golden Triangle DC, was held on a historic day: The Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Hundreds came to the public park in DC’s Downtown district, a stones throw from The White House and Black Lives Matter Plaza, to witness the unveiling of the sculptural duo that has made the long journey from Europe to the US to stand as a symbol of peaceful EU - US relations. Guest speakers lent their voices to the occasion in a series of inspiring speeches, including EU Ambassador to the US Stavros Lambrinidis, German Ambassador to the US Emily Haber, Chair of the Golden Triangle Business District Leona Agouridis, Kimberly Marteau Emerson, Sawsan Chebli, and the artist Mia Florentine Weiss.

The speeches were accompanied by Happenings in which the audience participated in the event by engaging with one another through a series of prompts, gaining various insights on the concept of “a change of perspective”. This, alongside the interviews, was led by moderator and Social Sculptor Philippa Hughes.

“THIS SCULPTURE - I THINK IT’S MAGICAL. IT’S BEAUTIFUL. MY IDEA IS THIS SCULPTURE, LOVE HATE, BELONGS ON THE AISLE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS. IT’S SO SYMBOLIC OF HOW MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THE UNITED STATES COULD BE IF WE DIDN’T HAVE SO MUCH HATE.”

— PRESIDENT OF THE WILSON CENTRE AND FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN JANE HARMAN


Photography by Peter Lueders