Christian CND marks 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with art Installation and service at Coventry Cathedral

Installation at Coventry

Christian CND has anoounced a poignant and beautiful new art installation at Coventry Cathedral, running from 30 July to 25 August, to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The installation commemorates the victims of nuclear weapons and offers a message of hope for a peaceful future.

Specially commissioned by Christian CND for this anniversary, the artwork was created by artist Leah Hislop and is available to view whenever the cathedral is open. Composed of dark black and vibrant coloured paper cranes, the sculpture encourages reflection on the human cost of nuclear war and our shared responsibility to seek peace.

Leah Hislop explained her inspiration: "My commission for Christian CND was inspired by the words of Tomoko Watanabe, co-founder of the Green Legacy Hiroshima. In an interview regarding the aftermath of the bombing, she describes speaking to its survivors about the devastation of the landscape. They thought the land would remain colourless and barren for a long time. However, amongst the devastated black and grey landscape, the vivid colours of life did start to grow back and this inspired a sense of hope to the people."

A special Hiroshima Day service will be held in the cathedral on 6 August at 5.40pm, marking eight decades since the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. The service will include a reflection from Sophie Bolt of CND and is open to all who wish to remember, reflect, and recommit to peace.

"We are delighted to have this poignant paper sculpture in the Cathedral," said the Very Revd John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry.

"With its combination of dark black and vibrant colours, fashioned out of peace cranes, it powerfully leads us into repentance and hope for the world, and inspires us to move forward on the journey towards reconciliation."

Martin Tiller, Co-Chair of Christian CND, added: "The destruction of Coventry Cathedral in World War Two, the opening of the new cathedral in 1962, and the ongoing ministry of reconciliation and peace which is based there, is already an inspiring story of hope and new life. Leah's artwork perfectly echoes this story by reflecting on the destruction of Hiroshima and the new hope we all need to find. It's as relevant now as ever."

LINK

Christian CND: www.christiancnd.org.uk