Yukinori Yanagi's ICARUS retrospective at Pirelli HangarBicocca features atomic bomb cyanotypes
Right now, there's an exhibition called "ICARUS" featuring the artwork of Yukinori Yanagi at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan. This show looks back over four decades of his significant, site-specific installations. A standout piece is "Atomic Clouds over Ground Zero" from 2024, which includes two large cyanotypes based on photos of the Hiroshima bomb’s mushroom cloud from August 6, 1945. One image shows the scene from the ground, while the other captures it from above, both enlarged for impact. These artworks provoke different feelings—one is emotional, and the other invites reflection. Yanagi explores the complex meanings of symbols. This exhibition also commemorates the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, showcasing the multifaceted nature of visual art.
Key facts
- Yukinori Yanagi created the diptych "Atomic Clouds over Ground Zero" in 2024
- The exhibition "ICARUS" is a retrospective at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan
- The cyanotypes are based on photographs of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb detonation on August 6, 1945
- One photograph shows the mushroom cloud from ground level, the other from aerial perspective
- Both images are enlarged to monumental scale within the exhibition space
- The works reference the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Yanagi's practice examines the complexity of symbols and iconic images
- The exhibition features site-specific adaptations of installations from four decades
Entities
Artists
- Yukinori Yanagi
Institutions
- Pirelli HangarBicocca
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Hiroshima
- Japan
- Nagasaki