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Yoko Ono's Work Publicly Exhibited: Hiroshima Television Broadcasting's "Piece for Peace HIROSHIMA" Project
On August 4, Hiroshima Television Broadcasting exhibited an artwork by artist and peace activist Yoko Ono at the Hiroshima International Conference Center as part of the "Piece for Peace HIROSHIMA" campaign. This project, launched in 2012 to mark Hiroshima TV Broadcasting's 50th anniversary, invites people worldwide to write a single character expressing their wish for peace on paper recycled from origami cranes sent to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. To date, 18,000 characters have been submitted from around the world.
Kiyotaka Yoshikawa, Head of the Compliance Promotion Office at the company, stated, "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing. As the culmination of the project, we asked Ms. Ono, who wrote the first character '夢' (dream), to participate. We wish to send a message of peace from Hiroshima to the world together with Ms. Ono, who holds strong feelings for Hiroshima. The artwork will now tour venues including the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, and we hope many people will see it."
Titled "HIROSHIMA AIR CLOCK," the work is a black pillar clock approximately 3.4 meters tall. Beneath the clock face, where the hands are frozen at 8:15—the moment the atomic bomb was dropped—the characters "6" and "月" (tsuki, meaning "month") are displayed, reflecting that August 6, 1945, was a Monday. It embodies Ono's sentiment: "To maintain and achieve the peace we have today, and world peace, let us return to the moment of the atomic bombing 70 years ago on August 6th. Let us never forget that agonizing instant when we couldn't even breathe." Ono received the Hiroshima Prize in 2011, awarded by Hiroshima City and others to artists who contribute to peace through contemporary art, and has visited the Peace Memorial Park.
On the same day of the unveiling, the artwork and a video message from Ms. Ono were broadcast on Hiroshima TV's "Piece for Peace HIROSHIMA Special Program." They were also introduced at Mazda Stadium, where excitement built during the professional baseball game between the Hiroshima Carp and the Hanshin Tigers, held as the "Hiroshima TV Piece for Peace HIROSHIMA GAME."
Message from Yoko Ono
People around the world feel very strongly that because of what happened in Hiroshima, "we must ensure this never happens again." In that sense, I believe Hiroshima is becoming increasingly important.
As August 6th approaches each year, I regret that the Japanese people have not yet sufficiently conveyed to the world the tragedy experienced in Hiroshima.
This tragedy could happen to any country, any city, at any time. I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to create this Piece for Peace HIROSHIMA artwork, and I dedicate it to the souls of the people of Hiroshima who died in sorrow and suffering.
Exhibition Overview
Title: HIROSHIMA AIR CLOCK
Artist: Yoko Ono
Size:
Clock Body: Height 3000 mm × Width 1770 mm × Depth 720 mm
Base: Height 400 mm × Width 2300 mm × Depth 2300 mm
Materials: Iron, steel plate, FRP, and others
Exhibition Schedule:
Hiroshima International Conference Center: August 4 (Tue) - 14 (Fri)
Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art: August 18 (Tue) - 30 (Sun)
Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art: September 1 (Tue) - 13 (Sun)
Hiroshima Television Broadcasting Headquarters: September 14 (Mon) onwards
Organizer: Hiroshima Television Broadcasting
Supported by: Hiroshima City
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