Shu Kataoka

Love/Peace Poster exhibition, PEACE FOREVER


July 28 — August 20, 2005

Photo: Yasuaki Yoshinaga

Photo: Yasuaki Yoshinaga

Photo: Yasuaki Yoshinaga

Photo: Yasuaki Yoshinaga

Photo: Yasuaki Yoshinaga

This exhibition featured a collection of “Peace Posters,” taken from the life work of graphic designer Shu Kataoka and exhibited to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the end of World War II in 2005. Particular focus was given to posters in which lettering was a major theme, and Kataoka’s series of single-character posters spelling out the Buddhist recitation “Namu Amidabutsu” and “LOVE” were set on slowly revolving columns designed in the image of prayer wheels. Hiroshima native Kataoka was in his first year of junior high school when the atomic bomb was dropped on the city; he was at school when it struck but miraculously survived. In 1985, the 40th anniversary of the attack, he began a project to make 100 Peace Posters while he was still alive. He completed 72, 19 of which were displayed here.

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