Flash of Light, Wall of Fire

Riggs Ward Design created the exhibition Flash of Light, Wall of Fire at the Briscoe Center for American History, presenting a powerful selection of photographs documenting the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The exhibit translates the compelling visual record compiled by the Anti-Nuclear Photographers Movement of Japan into a thoughtful gallery experience, giving visitors an opportunity to witness these historical events through the eyes of those who lived them.

The exhibition includes both black-and-white and color images, including photographs by Tsuneo Enari of objects, landscapes, and personal artifacts that bear witness to the bombs’ effects. The gallery follows the layout of the University of Texas published book, allowing visitors to experience the photographs in a sequence that conveys the immediate and lasting impact of the attacks.

The images, taken by individual photographers and survey groups, document explosions, destroyed buildings and streets, victims, survivors, and makeshift hospitals. By combining careful curation, layout, and interpretive design, the exhibit provides a deeply affecting and historically grounded presentation that communicates the human consequences of atomic weaponry while preserving the integrity of the original documentary material.