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Overview
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In 2008, ChimPom made a skywriting of the word "PIKA!" in the sky above the A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima for "Making the Sky of Hiroshima 'PIKA!'" project, which developed into a dispute and brought about cancellation of a solo exhibition to be held at Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art. Having published a book reporting and investigating the dispute, ChimPom has continued to produce many works on Hiroshima and nuclear issues. With "HIROSHIMA!"(2009 Vacant, Tokyo) as a start, the summerized exhibition "HIROSHIMA!" has traveled around with those works, counting up with adding an "!" in the end each time. In 2013, it was brought to Hiroshima as Chim↑Pom's biggest solo exhibition ("Hiroshima!!!!!!", The former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch) by Gallery G's calling out and support from some citizens of Hiroshima.
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Column
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On October 21st 2008, Chim↑Pom was preparing 'Making the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”' for a solo-show to be held at the museum studio of Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art. Having chartered a skywriting plane, they had planned to write the word “PIKA!” with a vapor trail in the sky above the A-bomb dome and make a photo and video documentary of the event. However on the following day, the "Chugoku Shimbun" newspaper published an article strongly condemning the act, along with a photo taken by a citizen who witnessed it. In response to the voices of outraged citizens and A-Bomb victim organization representatives saying the act was “unpleasant,” the article claimed that “PIKA!” reminds people of “PIKA DON,” and thus, was a very shortsighted artistic decision by the group.

This news was soon reported on by a number of other online and print media outlets, growing into such a controversial social issue that Chim↑Pom eventually came to make a public apology for their “lack of advance announcement” in front of A-Bomb victim organization representatives. The planned solo show had to be canceled as “voluntarily refrained.” At that time, Chim↑Pom lost the opportunity to show it as their latest work to the public.

On the other hand, Cai Guo-Qiang's "Black Fireworks : Project for Hiroshima" conducted on October 25th, which set off 1200 black fireworks near the A-Bomb dome, won the highest praise from media outlets. This work was a part of the anniversary exhibition of the Hiroshima Art Prize hosted in the same Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art.

Later, Chim↑Pom united with those A-Bomb victim organizations and began preparing 'Why Can't We Make the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”', a book investigating the series of disputes through interviews with the organizations and contributions from critics, artists, and the like, which was then published in the following year, March 2009. Much more than an ordinary art book, it also examines the contrast between the United States and Japan on their positive and negative understanding of the A-Bomb, between the victors who brought WWII to an end and the defeated who experienced the A-Bomb's effects, and political aspects of Hiroshima behind its international appeal as the A-Bomb site. The book also suggests differences, perhaps due to a gap in generations, between Chim↑pom and many other artists who deal with the A-Bomb as a motif, such as Yukinori Yanagi or Takashi Murakami for instance. incidentally, the work 'Making the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”' was eventually displayed at Maruki Gallery For The Hiroshima Panels (Saitama), a museum dedicated to housing $$The Hiroshima Panels,$$ the most famous anti-war A-Bomb art by the couple Iri & Toshi Maruki.

Text : Kenichi ABE (Editor)
2012

*Note: “PIKA DON” is a mimetic word created by A-Bomb survivors, who had not known even the word “atomic bomb” at the time, expressing what they experienced in the explosion with “PIKA” as the flash and “DON” as the roaring blast that followed. Later, the sound “PIKA” alone came to be established as a word for the A-Bomb.
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Media
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"Asia Art Pacific"TABOOS IN JAPANESE POSTWAR ART: MUTUALLY ASSURED DECORUM PDF
"Quick Japan Vol.82"『ピカッ』騒動をめぐって
"本人"2008年 Vol.5 PDF
"日刊スポーツ"2008年10月23日 PDF
"デイリースポーツ"2008年10月23日 PDF
"スポーツ報知"2008年10月23日 PDF
"中国新聞"2008年10月22日 PDF
"hiroshima exsite"2013年 PDF
"artscape"Chim↑Pom展「広島!!!!!」2013/12/13 福住廉 PDF
"artscape"広島!2009/03/21 福住廉 PDF
"fine print"Issue 25: MONUMENTS, June 2021. PDF
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Index
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We Don’t Know God 2018
Non-Burnable 2017/ 2019
The Peace Day 2011/ 2013
The history of human 2015
Why Can’t We Make the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”? 2009
Untitled 2009
Making the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!” 2009
Real Thousand Cranes 2009

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We Don’t Know God
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2018
“Te Peace Flame” is the embers from a fire that was started by the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack. From its original location, it was brought to Hoshino in Fukuoka Prefecture, the hometown of Tatsuo Yamamoto as a memento to commemorate his uncle who fell victim to the atomic bomb, and it continued to burn secretly for 25 years. Te fame was passed down to the village in 1968, which was dispersed to various temples and town halls all over Japan, allowing it to exist until today. Chim↑Pom used this fire as a medium for the production of various art pieces, but this is the first time that the fire itself, accompanied by a white wall became a piece of art. Te goal is to pass the fire on to various museums around the world. Te title has multiple connotations: it refers to the fact that the fire is passed from Japan, the country where there are many atheists and the first country in human history to become a victim of nuclear attacks. In these settings, the power of the atomic bomb becomes a force as if Buddha or any other God does not exist. It also has the implications of fire being worshipped as a god in ancient times and presents nuclear energy as an invasion of the territory of almighty God.
  • We don’t know God
    2018
    原爆の残り火
    Photo: Kenji Morita
    Courtesy of the artist and ANOMALY

  • We don’t know God
    2018
    原爆の残り火
    Photo: Kenji Morita
    Courtesy of the artist and ANOMALY

  • We Don’t Know God
    2018/2022 Dimensions variable, Lingering flame from the Hiroshima atomic bombing in a white cube
    Installation view: Chim↑Pom: Happy Spring, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022
    Material Support: Yame City, Photo: Kenji Morita
    Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

  • We Don’t Know God
    2018/2022 Dimensions variable, Lingering flame from the Hiroshima atomic bombing in a white cube
    Installation view: Chim↑Pom: Happy Spring, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022
    Material Support: Yame City, Photo: Kenji Morita
    Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

  • We Don’t Know God
    2018/2022 Dimensions variable, Lingering flame from the Hiroshima atomic bombing in a white cube
    Installation view: Chim↑Pom: Happy Spring, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022
    Material Support: Yame City, Photo: Kenji Morita
    Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

  • We Don’t Know God
    2018/2022 Dimensions variable, Lingering flame from the Hiroshima atomic bombing in a white cube
    Installation view: Chim↑Pom: Happy Spring, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022
    Material Support: Yame City, Photo: Kenji Morita
    Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

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Non-Burnable
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Hiroshima City receives countless paper cranes from all over the world – Chim↑Pom is given some of them to unfold into single sheets of origami paper and then folding them back into cranes one by one. Along with a performance video of Ellie steadily unfolding the paper cranes back to origami while reading the messages written inside them, the work offers a workshop that invites the audience to fold the unfolded origami back into paper cranes. Te recycled paper cranes are sent back to Hiroshima City from the museum. Te title references the fact that the warehouse Hiroshima City uses to keep the paper cranes is labeled “non- burnable trash.”
  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

  • Non-Burnable
    2017
    Performance, workshop and origami (Materials provided by Hiroshima City)
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Non-Burnable” (Dallas Contemporary, Dallas, 2017)
    Photo: Kevin Todora
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

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2019
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  • #non-2019

    Non-Burnable
    2019
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Threat of Peace (Hiroshima!!!!!!)” (Art in General, New York, 2019)
    Photo: Dario Lasagni
    Courtesy of Art in General and the artists

  • Non-Burnable
    2019
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Threat of Peace (Hiroshima!!!!!!)” (Art in General, New York, 2019)
    Photo: Dario Lasagni
    Courtesy of Art in General and the artists

  • Non-Burnable
    2019
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Threat of Peace (Hiroshima!!!!!!)” (Art in General, New York, 2019)
    Photo: Dario Lasagni
    Courtesy of Art in General and the artists

  • Non-Burnable
    2019
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Threat of Peace (Hiroshima!!!!!!)” (Art in General, New York, 2019)
    Photo: Dario Lasagni
    Courtesy of Art in General and the artists

  • Non-Burnable
    2019
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Threat of Peace (Hiroshima!!!!!!)” (Art in General, New York, 2019)
    Photo: Dario Lasagni
    Courtesy of Art in General and the artists

  • Non-Burnable
    2019
    Mixed media
    Installation view: “Threat of Peace (Hiroshima!!!!!!)” (Art in General, New York, 2019)
    Photo: Dario Lasagni
    Courtesy of Art in General and the artists

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Postal service connects the whole world
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2017
There is also a video work of the group sending paper cranes, unfolded origami and instructions on how to fold them back as a package to American President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea.
  • Postal service connects the whole world
    2017
    Video (3’ 05”), envelope (package of origami that were unfolded from paper cranes delivered to Hiroshima, instructions on how to fold origami cranes, return envelope and stamp)
    Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production


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    The Peace Day
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    A series of drawings that was made with the “Peace Flame.” Taking motifs from animals, plants or daily necessities, a series of about 440 paintings were produced for this work by drawing the images with rope and plaster on canvases of different sizes, and then burning piles of the drawings with the “Peace Flame” at the same time. The performance was done in Tokyo in 2011 and in Hiroshima in 2013.
    • The Peace Day
      2011/2013 Panel, rope, plaster, ”The Peace Flame,” soot, others
      Installation view: Chim↑Pom: HIROSHIMA !!!!!, Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch, Hiroshima, 2013
      Photo: Kenji Morita
      Courtesy of the artist

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    • The Peace Day
      2011/2013 Panel, rope, plaster, ”The Peace Flame,” soot, others
      Installation view: Chim↑Pom: HIROSHIMA !!!!!, Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch, Hiroshima, 2013
      Photo: Kenji Morita
      Courtesy of the artist

    • The Peace Day
      2011/2013 Panel, rope, plaster, ”The Peace Flame,” soot, others
      Installation view: Chim↑Pom: Happy Spring, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022
      Photo: Kenji Morita
      Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

    • The Peace Day
      2011/2013 Panel, rope, plaster, ”The Peace Flame,” soot, others
      Installation view: Chim↑Pom: Happy Spring, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, 2022
      Photo: Kenji Morita
      Photo courtesy: Mori Art Museum, Tokyo

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    The history of human
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    Countless number of origami cranes are sent to Hiroshima City from all over the world. This is originated from the true story of a Japanese girl who was diagnosed with leukaemia after being exposed to radiation from the bombing of Hiroshima and kept folding origami cranes wishing for health and peace, based on the legend that a wish comes true when the number of a crane reaches to one thousand. Ever since, Hiroshima receives vast amount of one thousand origami cranes and it has become as if a world collection of prayers each expressing an intimate wish for world peace. Hiroshima, however, has been facing a practical problem to preserve ever-increasing amounts of cranes.

    The project comprises the following procedure:
    Large quantity of origami cranes are received from Hiroshima City
    Each crane is unfolded by Ellie
    The unfolded cranes are refolded by visitors to the gallery
    The refolded cranes are sent back to Hiroshima City

    Each origami crane holds peace in its meaning, Chim↑Pom on the contrary, unfolding each wish. The reaction appears counteracting each other, but the endless loop of destruction and peace should be beyond an act of prayer and the endless loop is inevitably everlasting challenge.

    Performance will be shown for two hours daily, sometime during the exhibition.

    Material is provided by Hiroshima City
    • The history of human
      2015
      Installation
      Installation view: “SUPER RAT” (Saachi Gallery, London, 2015)
      Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

    • The history of human
      2015
      Installation
      Installation view: “SUPER RAT” (Saachi Gallery, London, 2015)
      Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

    • The history of human
      2015
      Installation
      Installation view: “SUPER RAT” (Saachi Gallery, London, 2015)
      Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

    • The history of human
      2015
      Installation
      Installation view: “SUPER RAT” (Saachi Gallery, London, 2015)
      Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production

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    Why Can’t We Make the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”?
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    investigates not the work Making the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!” itself, but themes of “A-bomb/war,” “contemporary society,” and “expression” through various “PIKA!” disputes, as it was published prior to the public exhibition of the work.
    • Naze Hiroshima no sora wo PIKA! to saseteha ikenainoka (Why Can’t We Make the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”?, 2009, Edited by Chim↑Pom and Abe Kenichi, MUJIN-TO Production.


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      Untitled
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      • Untitled

        2009
        paper, pencil, colored pencil
        31.2×20.1cm (image size)
        Cooperation: Kenji Itagaki
        Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production


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        Making the Sky of Hiroshima “PIKA!”
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        2009
        Writing the word “PIKA!” in a vapor trail in the sky above the Genbaku Dome (Hiroshima Peace Memorial), this work put a mimetic word in the scenery of Hiroshima reminiscent of a panel from a comic book, layering the disappearing vapor trail on the decay of memories, as an expression of contemporary historical understanding of peace in postwar Japan.
        • Making the sky of Hiroshima“PIKA!”
          2009
          video (5’ 35”), lambda print (66.7×100cm)
          Photo: Bond Nakao
          Courtesy of the artist and MUJIN-TO Production


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          Real Thousand Cranes
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          This project aims at producing 1000 life-size realistic crane (gures one by one as a commissioned work from individuals and organizations. Hiroshima receives a number of origami cranes from all over the world, and this can be seen as “a collection of human prayers” all made in the identical design each expressing an intimate wish for peace. Ever time someone orders a crane, this project also produces a plate engraved with his/her prayer. Art collection and human prayer are connected together under the name of “Senbazuru” [a thousand cranes, a symbol of prayers for recover in Japan].
          • Real Thousand Cranes
            2008
            FRP, feathers, origami, prayer plates, etc.