MEDAL PRESENTED TO HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN FOR THE GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AWARD 2016-09-21

STATEMENT BY ANNA WILLIAMS, SCULPTOR OF THE MEDAL PRESENTED TO HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN

The medal presented to His Highness the Aga Khan for the A.C. Prize for Global Citizenship. Photo and artist statement (below) from the program booklet “Six Degrees Citizen Space 2016,” published by 6DegreesTO.com.
“Arienne Clarkson asked me to create a medal for the Prize for Global Citizenship. I had the idea of bringing together the world of creation with that of the great mythological winged deities. Sedna is the Inuit goddess from whom all creatures of the sea spring. Atlanta, Nike, Lilith and the winged bearers of souls in Norse lore, the Valkyrie, each exist in an imperfect world. But through their strength, intelligence, independence, and compassion, they have created an iconography of champions and dissenters. Each in their own way is unyielding and stands apart as they chart a new course against buffeting waves. In the narrative of this medal, Sedna the creator emerges from the waves to pass a vulnerable world to the outstretched arms of our winged guardian.”