Nobel Peace Prize Exhibition 2024: A Message to Humanity

The Nobel Peace Prize exhibition A Message to Humanity will be officially opened on December 11 by representatives of this year's peace prize laureate. The opening takes place the day after the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The exhibition provides a powerful insight into the destructive force of the atomic bomb through the testimonies of the survivors. Their personal stories help us understand their message that nuclear weapons must never be used again.

"A Message to Humanity is a call to humanity to listen and act. It offers an insight into the work of Nihon Hidankyo for a world free of nuclear weapons and spreads the message that we must listen to the hibakusha – the survivors of the atomic bombings – and take action to ensure nuclear weapons are never used again," says Kjersti Fløgstad, Director of the Nobel Peace Center.

The exhibition begins with the bomb, immediately taking visitors down to the ground beneath the mushroom cloud to experience the vast destruction and suffering that unfolded. From there, visitors learn about Nihon Hidankyo and their efforts for a world without nuclear weapons – a struggle they have led since 1956. Their activism and impact are placed in context with the development of nuclear weapons, nuclear tests, and political agreements and norms against their use.

The renowned French Magnum photographer Antoine d’Agata visited Hiroshima and Tokyo in November 2024 to photograph the Hibakusha for the Nobel Peace Center. These works form a powerful and deeply meaningful contrast to d’Agata's earlier work with the Hiroshima archives, which will also be displayed to illustrate the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons use.

"There is determination in the eyes of the survivors," said Antoine d’Agata after his trip to Japan in November 2024.

The famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has created a special installation for this year's peace prize exhibition. One thousand cedarwood figures, called kigumi, made from cedar wood from Hiroshima, represent each Hibakusha telling their story in the book The Witness of Those Two Days. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the figures and engage with their stories. Eight of the stories are available as audio recordings in Norwegian, English, and Japanese, allowing visitors to listen to the testimonies of survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The final part of the exhibition explores the current political narratives around nuclear weapons and highlights how new generations continue (and must continue) the work initiated by Nihon Hidankyo.

"The contrast between despair and hope in this exhibition provides a powerful foundation for reflection," says Kjersti Fløgstad.

The Nobel Peace Prize exhibition 2024 opens to the public on 12 December and will be on display until November 2025.