It is a story of devastation. An event that woke the world to the awful power of the atomic bomb. Hiroshima and Nagasaki entered the world’s
ADVERTISEMENTIt is a story of devastation. An event that woke the world to the awful power of the atomic bomb.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki entered the world’s consciousness 70 years ago when atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities.
An exhibition of artefacts and screen paintings showing the aftermath has opened in Washington and features the work of Japanese artists Iri Maruki and his wife Toshi.
“This is a real opportunity to talk about something that we really need to talk about,” said Jack Rasmussen, Director of the American University Museum where the exhibition is being staged.
The works have been loaned by a museum in the Saitima Prefecture near Tokyo, to highlight what it believes is the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons. The exhibition was organised with the cooperation of American historians working on nuclear issues.
Images, texts and artefacts help to piece together the story of the attacks and their effect on the people of the cities.
Six large folding screens are on show in the United States for the first time, depicting the horror of Aug. 6, 1945 and the days that followed.
The dropping of the bombs 70 years ago sparks debate in the United States, with many believing it was the right decision and hastened the end of the war in the Pacific. The exhibition will run until mid-August and is scheduled to tour Boston and New York.
