AN art gallery in eastern Japan housing a series of paintings depicting the horrors of the 1945 US atomic bombings is scheduled to reopen next year after renovation but faces an uncertain future due to the expected mounting costs of operating the facility. Yukinori Okamura, managing director of the Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels, is seeking support to keep the legacy of the artwork alive. “The significance of these paintings is only growing,” as the number of atomic bomb survivors dwindles and fewer people remain to pass on their stories, he said.
Established in 1967, the gallery is located in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, and houses 14 works by the late, Nobel Peace Prize-nominated artists Iri and Toshi Maruki. The pieces are among the 15 folding screen paintings, one of which is permanently displayed at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. The paintings, known as the Hiroshima Panels, have been exhibited abroad including in the United States. The museum has undergone several renovations, with its most recent closure taking place in September 2025. The aging building has suffered from rain leaks and humidity, which have damaged the artwork in recent years. — Kyodo
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