Unforgettable Footage of Hiroshima
Artwork Commemorates Hiroshima Bombing with a Haunting Digital Diptych
In the heart of London, at Piccadilly Circus, a powerful digital art piece titled "I Saw the World End" was unveiled on August 6, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima [1][2][4]. Commissioned by the Imperial War Museums (IWM), this monumental digital art production was a collaborative effort between British artist Es Devlin and Machiko Weston.
The artwork, which was also internally showcased at IWM for reflective viewing, presents a unique approach to commemorating historical events. Instead of relying on conventional imagery, it offers a text-based guided journey that invites audiences to explore memory, trauma, and political amnesia surrounding the bombings [1][2].
I Saw the World End is a ten-minute digital diptych, with each screen showcasing different perspectives. One screen is curated by Devlin and focuses on the Western creators and builders of the atomic bomb, while the other, curated by Weston, depicts the experiences of Japanese victims, witnesses, and survivors [2]. The piece distills the unimaginable scale of the atomic destruction into the brief timeline of ten seconds—the approximate time in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki were largely obliterated.
The artwork delves into the physical and mythological impacts of the bomb, exploring the moment when human capacity for devastation fundamentally changed [2]. It fuses British and Japanese cultural perspectives, providing a thought-provoking examination of the event's aftermath and its lasting effects on generations.
By confronting viewers with the scale of human loss, I Saw the World End serves as a potent meditation on the fragile conditions of peace and the ongoing risk of extinction. It encourages reflection on the fraught legacy of nuclear warfare and the shared memory that transcends cultural boundaries.
In summary, this innovative artwork memorializes the Hiroshima bombing through a solemn digital format that transcends standard imagery, emphasizing shared memory and contemplation over spectacle [1][2][4].
References: [1] Imperial War Museums. (2025). I Saw the World End at Piccadilly Circus. Retrieved from https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/i-saw-the-world-end [2] Devlin, E., & Weston, M. (2025). I Saw the World End: A Digital Diptych Commemorating the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima. ArtReview, 73(6), 38-43. [4] BBC News. (2025). Digital Artwork Commemorates Hiroshima Bombing at Piccadilly Circus. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58098522
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