"This donation reflects the shared commitment of Michelangelo Pistoletto and UNESCO to a harmonious society, as well as their common desire to highlight the fundamental role of culture as a vehicle for dialogue and unity among peoples." This was the announcement made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Communication and Information, regarding the gift the artist made: the work Love Difference, presented yesterday afternoon at a ceremony at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, located at 125 avenue de Suffren. The piece is a diptych composed of two polished stainless steel plates and features "a photographic image of four figures – as stated in the official presentation – applied through serigraphy. The chosen scenography symbolizes unity and universality, promoting dialogue and mutual understanding. The reflective surface invites viewers to see their own reflection within the context of a shared humanity, fostering a sense of collective belonging and mutual respect."

The installation, created by the artist specifically for the United Nations specialized agency, was donated with the support of Cittadellarte and Galleria Continua, in collaboration with the Italian delegation of UNESCO. "Michelangelo Pistoletto’s collaboration with the Organization is long-standing," emphasizes UNESCO, "and with this gesture, he reaffirms his support." The ceremony also included a series of speeches: in addition to Pistoletto himself, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO's Director-General, Lorenzo Fiaschi, co-founder of Galleria Continua, and Liborio Stellino, Italy’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, also spoke. Furthermore, Giuliana Setari, President of Cittadellarte, Paolo Naldini, Director of Cittadellarte, Armona Pistoletto, President of Let Eat Bi, and Sara Gentile, Deputy Mayor of Biella, participated in the event.

"A prominent figure in contemporary art, renowned for his pivotal role in the Arte Povera movement, Michelangelo Pistoletto – this is how the artist is introduced in the official press release – has explored throughout his career themes of mirrors and art as a social tool for interaction and sharing. His innovative mirror paintings, created in the early 1960s, are iconic works that feature reflective surfaces to abolish the boundaries between the artwork and the viewer, who thus becomes part of the artwork itself. Love Difference, in this sense – it concludes – is a work in Michelangelo Pistoletto’s art that is an emblematic example of a tool for social transformation."