Reminder of Hiroshima: A Video Worth Remembering

In the heart of London, on August 6, 2025, a powerful digital art piece titled "I Saw the World End" was unveiled at Piccadilly Circus, marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki[1][3]. Commissioned by the Imperial War Museum, this monumental digital work was a collaborative effort between British artist Es Devlin and Japanese artist Machiko Weston.

The art piece, a digital diptych, eschews conventional war imagery in favour of a unique text-based presentation that invites viewers to reflect on the human cost of nuclear destruction[1]. The screen is divided into two halves, each representing a different perspective: the creators and builders of the atomic bomb (curated by Devlin) and the victims, witnesses, and survivors (curated by Weston)[2].

"I Saw the World End" combines archival footage, eyewitness testimonies, poetry, and newly commissioned animations to evoke the scale of human loss and trauma caused by the nuclear bombings[1]. The timeline of the physical impact is from a millionth of a second to three seconds to ten seconds, when the physical destruction was complete[4]. The artwork's duration is ten minutes, mirroring the brief yet devastating span of the atomic bombings.

The thematic exploration centres on the immediacy and enormity of nuclear destruction, investigating the physical devastation as well as the mythological and intergenerational trauma that endures[3]. The artwork acts as a meditation on memory, trauma, and the ongoing threat of extinction, emphasising the fragile peace boundaries[3].

The timeline of the mythological impact follows from grandparents to parents to the artists' perception of the event. The creators aimed to explore the physical and mythological impact of the bomb, reflecting both British and Japanese cultural traditions[1].

This artwork functions as a public act of remembrance that challenges the audience to engage actively with the narratives of destruction and collective memory[1][3]. Over 100,000 people, mostly civilians, were immediately killed by the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and thousands more died later due to fatal injuries or radiation effects[5].

In commemorating this significant historical event, "I Saw the World End" serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare and the importance of peace.

References:

[1] The Guardian. (2025, August 6). "I Saw the World End": Es Devlin and Machiko Weston's digital artwork commemorates the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/aug/06/i-saw-the-world-end-es-devlin-and-machiko-westons-digital-artwork-commemorates-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-atomic-bombings

[2] Imperial War Museum. (2025, August 6). "I Saw the World End" by Es Devlin and Machiko Weston. Retrieved from https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/i-saw-the-world-end-by-es-devlin-and-machiko-weston

[3] BBC News. (2025, August 6). "I Saw the World End": A digital art piece commemorates the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58478595

[4] The Independent. (2025, August 6). "I Saw the World End": The ten-second timeline of nuclear destruction. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/i-saw-the-world-end-the-ten-second-timeline-of-nuclear-destruction-b1029646.html

[5] Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (n.d.). Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Retrieved from https://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/english/about/history/index.html