Ark of Return

The UN has debuted a permanent memorial to honor the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. The sculpture is by Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon (also the designer of the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan). The marble artwork has three distinct features: a map that illustrates the scale of the slave trade; a full-size human figure lying supine in a cramped space, giving viewers a visceral idea of the conditions on slave ships; and a triangular reflecting pool that affords an opportunity for quiet contemplation. For more information, visit un.org.