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BROKEN CHAIR

18 August - Broken Chair comes to Place des Nations

This giant chair was born out of Handicap International’s desire to rally states and public opinion to put an end to the humanitarian crisis caused by antipersonnel mines.

"The idea was to attract the public's attention by creating a powerful message that cannot be rejected by Geneva authorities. To speak of such a sensitive subject, one has to go through a symbol." -  Paul Vermeulen, co-founder of Handicap International Switzerland.

Originally, Broken Chair was to be installed for a few months and taken down in December 1997 once the Ottawa Treaty prohibiting the acquisition, production, stockpiling and use of antipersonnel mines was signed. Yet thanks to its popularity, the sculpture has remained on Place des Nations.

The renovation of Place des Nations again threatened Broken Chair’s presence. "While for the architects, the artwork integrated perfectly their visual concept of the renovation of the square, pressure for its removal came from certain international spheres." - Paul Vermeulen.

On the initiative of Handicap International, a support movement was organised to bring back the artwork, which had rapidly gained international renown.

Beyond the debate about its future, Broken Chair returned to its original location thanks to a groundswell of popular demand.

"You don't get rid of symbols so easily. Its return had provoked heated debate at the heart of international organizations. But a wide support has made Daniel Berset's work an icon in the fight against mines and cluster bombs, as well as a place of expression of all injustices." - the daily newspaper Le Temps.

Handicap International extended the work’s symbolic power in support of the process to ban cluster bombs, which were subsequently banned by the Oslo Convention in December 2008.

Handicap International chose a new role for Broken Chair. As part of its “NO to the bombing of civilians” campaign, the monument now embodies the desperate cries of those maimed by military violence, with reference to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

As a key witness to the ravages of explosive weapons and in keeping with its foundational opposition to weapons that kill civilians, Handicap International symbolically inaugurated the Monument to the Unknown Civilian in honour of the millions of women, men and children who have unjustly died in the shadow of war.

Following the announcement made by U.S. government to resume the use and storage of anti-personnel mines, Handicap International organized an awareness campaign under Broken Chair to call on the signatory states of the Ottawa Treaty to use all their influence to get the United States to reverse this outrageous decision.

Handicap International positioned a “balloon tank” next to Broken Chair to draw attention to the final negotiations to end the bombing of civilians in populated areas.

The ensuing discussions led to real progress. States now recognise that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas has an unacceptable humanitarian impact on civilians and that there is an urgent need to better protect them from this practice.

In order to raise awareness of barbaric practices such as the bombing of civilians and to continue to unite people around its fight to protect civilians, Handicap International organised the "Broken Days" campaign, which became part of the history of Broken Chair. Throughout September 2022 in Geneva, to mark the 25th anniversary of Broken Chair, an exhibition retraced the history of the chair's struggles. The flags on the Mont Blanc bridge and the water jet were in HI colours.

Franco-Swiss artist Saype has teamed up with Handicap International to raise awareness of the fight against the bombing of civilians around the world. To mark the occasion, Saype has created a gigantic fresco in eco-responsible paint entitled "All of us!”. With a surface area of 1,000 m², the work was located on the Place des Nations in Geneva, which was specially grassed over for the occasion. It depicted a hand pretending to repair the missing part of the Broken Chair sculpture using a fourth leg.  

All the information about this event

The humanitarian crisis and the massive loss of life in the Gaza Strip and Israel have deeply shocked the international community. We have joined forces at the feet of Broken Chair with CARE, Intersos, Médecins Du Monde Switzerland, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Terre des hommes Lausanne to support the call for an immediate ceasefire, to prevent the humanitarian catastrophe from worsening.

Broken Chair was last restored in 2016, and is now in need of restoration. Because of its organic material, it lives and transforms like a human being vulnerable to weapons. This work will be carried out by specialist companies throughout July 2024. The companies include Louis Genève and Thomas Büchi, both of whom worked on the creation of the Broken Chair 27 years ago. Artist Daniel Berset will also be involved.

Funding for the restoration is being provided entirely by companies and foundations keen to preserve this monument to international Geneva, the voice of victims of explosive weapons around the world.

As Handicap International's spokesperson for the victims of the bombings, Broken Chair once again bears deep scars following an act of vandalism in December 2024. Handicap International repaired the Broken Chair between March 24 and April 4, 2025. 

Vandalized but still standing 

On December 13, 2024, Broken Chair was vandalized by activists with a chainsaw. This act left deep gashes in this powerful symbol of the fight against landmines and the protection of civilians. Handicap International, owner of the chair, quickly contacted the companies behind its creation in 1997 and its latest restoration in 2024.  
For Thomas Büchi, master carpenter, the damage is significant: 

“The damage is serious, and it will take several weeks to repair this emblematic work by artist Daniel Berset. The repairs can only begin in the spring, as temperatures above 12°C are necessary to ensure proper adhesion of the new wood."

Q&A

• Why did the repairs have to wait until spring?

The wood of the sculpture requires temperatures above 10-12°C to allow for durable gluing and finishing.

• Why not leave the scars visible?

Master carpenter Thomas Büchi explains: "If we leave the scars, the wood could deteriorate over time."

•  Why aren’t those responsible paying for the damages?

The activists arrested were sentenced to financial penalties. However, the material damages remain the responsibility of Handicap International. We chose not to pursue civil litigation in order to focus our efforts on the restoration.

• Why doesn’t insurance cover the damage?

Specific clauses related to public art include strict conditions. In this case, the damage is not covered by insurance.

• Who is financing the repairs?

We extend our gratitude to the City of Geneva, as well as private partners and foundations, who contributed to covering the CHF 15,000 repair cost.