Milan, 1st October 2025 – The special event PARALLEL REALITIES has concluded at the United Nations Pavilion within the 24th Triennale Milano International Exhibition, which focuses on the theme of inequalities and will be open to visitors until 9 November 2025.
Organized by the United Nations SDG Action Campaign, in collaboration with Triennale Milano and with media partnership from RAI RADIO 2 Caterpillar, the special event PARALLEL REALITIES: From the stark realities of inequalities to hope and action served as a moment of reflection and inspiration, where art, activism, and institutions came together to address systemic inequalities and promote concrete actions to build a more equitable future.
Moderated by journalists Sara Zambotti and Massimo Cirri from RAI RADIO 2 Caterpillar, the event featured a fireside chat with the Turkish artist Uğur Gallenkuş, creator of the digital collages that form the visual centrepiece of the Pavilion. His powerful and provocative works offer a raw look at the global divides between privilege and oppression, sparking deep reflection on the power of art and empathy as tools for awareness and change.
The conference unfolded through two thematic panels:
- Hope in Action, with Susanna Schlein, Head of Multilateral Unit, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Marina Ponti, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign, and Martina Fuga, President of CoorDown and winner of the UN SDG Action Awards 2024, who shared experiences and strategies to turn hope into concrete action.
- Shaping a More Equal Tomorrow, with Marcella Favretto, Chief of the Sustainable Development Section at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Roberto Barbieri, General Director of Oxfam Italy, and Martina Caironi, Paralympic athlete and MilanoCortina2026 Ambassador, who discussed systemic challenges and the policies needed to reduce inequalities.
The speakers shared experiences, visions, and strategies to tackle economic, social, and environmental inequalities, emphasizing the power of collective action and individual commitment.
“We live in a world of parallel realities: some marked by oppression, violence, and exploitation; others illuminated by equality, justice, and peace. With our Pavilion, we expose the fractures in our society, while spotlighting the stories of those who refuse to give up in the face of injustice and confront it with solutions. We believe in hope as a driver of change, because if fear paralyzes us, hope moves us to act” said Marina Ponti, Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign.
The event has been organized as part of the Pavilion’s journey, which guides visitors from awareness to hope and action through art, storytelling, and interactive tools such as the UN Act Now platform.
The Parallel Realities Pavilion, open until 9 November 2025, continues to be a space for dialogue and mobilization, where art becomes hope and hope becomes action.
Next event – Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards
The dialogue and commitment will continue on 29 October 2025 in Rome, with the global event Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, which will honour individuals and organizations transforming the world through concrete actions for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ends
Parallel Realities
Exhibition Venue: Triennale di Milano, Viale Emilio Alemagna 6, 20121 Milan, Italy
Exhibition Dates: 13 May – 9 November 2025
Curator: United Nations SDG Action Campaign
Artist: Uğur Gallenkuş
UN SDG Press Officer: Samuele Cofano [email protected]
For more information about the first United Nations Pavilion at the International Exhibition of Triennale Milano, please refer to the Parallel Realities – Media kit.
About United Nations SDG Action Campaign
The UN SDG Action Campaign is a special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and based in Bonn, Germany. To bring us closer to a just, inclusive, and sustainable future, the Campaign elevates unheard communities, nurtures changemakers, and leverages creativity to inspire hope and bold action.
For more information about the UN SDG Action Campaign, please refer to this link.
For more information about the global event Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards, please refer to this link.
For more information about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, please refer to this link.
For further information, please contact:
Lorenzo Martinengo – [email protected]
Cinzia Martinengo – [email protected]
Via Vincenzo Monti, 9 – 20123 Milano
Tel. (+39) 02 4953 6650
E-mail: [email protected]
