Eighty years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the world faces renewed nuclear threats. The article reflects on the artistic responses to the bombing, highlighting how artists like Kikuji Kawada and Atsuyuki Matsuo used their work to grapple with the devastation and the enduring threat of nuclear annihilation. The author emphasizes the need to rediscover the "courage to be afraid" and to develop our imaginations to confront the current nuclear dangers, learning from the artistic responses to the first nuclear age. The article contrasts the initial awe surrounding the bomb with the later understanding of its horrific consequences, underscoring the urgent need for global action to prevent a similar catastrophe.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.