Chim↑Pom Curates Exhibition Featuring Yasuki Ooe and Makoto Aida's Works on Hiroshima and War

The exhibition 'Before and After: The Dropping of the A-Bomb' has been curated by the artist collective Chim↑Pom, showcasing pieces from 15-year-old Yasuki Ooe alongside established artist Makoto Aida. Ooe's sculptures illustrate the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, in its state before and after the 1945 bombing. Aida contributes a film version of 'Mutant Hanako,' which was initially a manga released in 1997, as part of his 'War Picture Returns' series. This film delves into modern Japanese erotic culture and includes narration from Aida, his wife, and artists such as Akira Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Matsukage, and Yuko Okada, with input from Chim↑Pom members Ryuta Ushiro and Yasutaka Hayashi. The exhibition reflects on the painful legacy of the Pacific War and its influence on today's Japanese society, bridging two generational viewpoints. Ooe is affiliated with the afterschool club Borderless Art Space HAP. This event is part of Chim↑Pom's ongoing 'Hiroshima' exhibition series, which commenced in 2009, contrasting the harsh realities of war with what is described as a growing 'gamification' of conflict through video games.