Non-Violence Sculpture, Malmo

The Non-Violence sculpture, also known as The Knotted Gun, is a thought-provoking artwork created by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd. This bronze sculpture depicts an oversized Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver with its barrel intricately tied into a knot, symbolizing a call for peace and non-violence. While the original piece is located at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, multiple replicas of the sculpture have been installed around the world, including in Malmö, Sweden.

Reuterswärd was inspired to create Non-Violence after the tragic murder of his friend, musician John Lennon, in 1980. Shocked by the violent act, the artist spent the night working on a new concept, channeling his grief and frustration into a powerful statement. The result was a firearm rendered useless by a knotted barrel, turning an instrument of harm into a universal plea for harmony.

Although the first public sculpture was initially planned to be part of the Strawberry Fields memorial for Lennon in Central Park, Reuterswärd decided against placing it there, fearing it could be stolen. Instead, in 1988, the Luxembourg government purchased and donated the sculpture to the United Nations. Positioned outside the UN headquarters, the sculpture became not only a tribute to Lennon but also a global emblem against war and violence.

Since then, about 30 replicas of the Non-Violence sculpture have been placed in various cities across the globe, half of them located in Sweden. These installations continue to serve as powerful reminders of the importance of peace and the futility of violence.

The Malmö version of Non-Violence is a local testament to Reuterswärd’s vision and artistic commitment to promoting non-violence. As part of a broader cultural and historical narrative, the sculpture in Malmö stands as a call for dialogue and understanding in a world often fraught with conflict.