Antoine d’Agata is the new Peace Prize photographer

The new exhibition, A Message to Humanity, tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nihon Hidankyo, representing the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and shows their work for a world free of nuclear weapons. The exhibition will be opened by representatives of the laureate on December 11 – the day after the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at the Oslo City Hall. D’Agata will also be present at the opening.

Nobel Peace Prize photographer Antoine d’Agata is not afraid to capture the dark and unsettling aspects of human experience. The French Magnum photographer is one of the most prominent figures in modern photography today and is internationally recognized for his deeply personal style and ability to document the hidden and often uncomfortable aspects of human experience. His work has been shown at prestigious venues such as the International Center of Photography in New York, Le Jeu de Paume in Paris, and the Photography Gallery in London.

In October, d’Agata was engaged by the Nobel Peace Center to take new photographs of Hibakusha – the survivors of the atomic bombings dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 – for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize exhibition. In his work, he has aimed to portray the survivors’ stories in an authentic and respectful manner, focusing on the deeply personal pain and long-term trauma they carry. His photographs have been described as powerful visual narratives that convey both the physical and psychological legacy of the atomic attacks.

"His two series in the exhibition each comment in their own way on the destructive forces of the atomic bomb: the portraits as a reminder from the last witnesses and the Hiroshima archive, which visualizes the catastrophic consequences of the atomic bomb," says Asle Olsen, curator at the Nobel Peace Center.

D’Agata’s photographs are not only documentation of the past, but they are also a reminder of the ongoing threats posed by nuclear weapons. They contribute to furthering the core message of Nihon Hidankyo: that nuclear weapons should never be used again. D’Agata wishesfor his photography to contribute to a global discussion on disarmament and the dangers of nuclear weapons.

Most of the Hibakusha areover 80 years old, and this year’s Peace Prize exhibition, A Message to Humanity, emphasizes the importance of passing on their stories when they can no longer do so themselves. In this context, visual reminders, such as d’Agata’s work, are of great significance.