Limited Edition Prints

THE SURVIVOR TREES OF NAGASAKI

High quality archival prints in limited editions of 15.

This infrared photographic series honours the hibakujumoku (A-bombed trees) that survived the plutonium bomb detonated over the city of Nagasaki at 11.02 am on August 9, 1945. ‘Fat Man’ unleashed the equivalent force of 22,000 tons of TNT – nothing was expected to grow in the city for at least 75 years. However the very next Spring green shoots began to emerge and a number of trees gradually came back to life. These photographs, taken 77 years after the bomb, focus on survivor trees in the grounds of the Sanno and Fuchi shrines of Nagasaki, and in the Inasayama forest which partially survived the bombing.

This series is part of the From Silence Into Song project, a collaboration between the Shout at Cancer laryngectomy choir and Philip Clemo. The Japanese survivor trees and members of the choir have both endured radioactivity – as a form of destruction (the bomb) and healing (radiotherapy). Choir members have survived cancer and gone on to learn to sing after the surgical removal of their voice boxes. They now harmonise and beatbox with the trees in live performance, in a unique celebration of resilience, survival and hope. You can learn more about the project at www.philipclemo.com/fromsilenceintosong