The Senzatomica campaign for nuclear disarmament, created by young peace activists and promoted by the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai (IBISG), has created a new interactive and immersive exhibition that has been shown in Brescia and Rome, Italy, where it was on display at the Ospedale delle Donne from March to May 2024.

The new exhibition has already drawn more than 50,000 visitors, including around 17,000 students, demonstrating strong public interest in the issue of nuclear abolition. It will be shown in Florence and other cities in 2025.

Titled “Senzatomica: Transforming the Human Spirit for a World Free from Nuclear Weapons,” the exhibition addresses the stark realities of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the ongoing threat posed by nuclear weapons. It engages visitors in a dialogue, posing the question: “What grassroots actions can we take to create a world free of nuclear weapons?”

The exhibition is divided into five sections: the Atrium, Echoes of Memory, the Library of Voices, the Table of the People and the Tunnel of Intention.

The Atrium features candid reflections from survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, known as the hibakusha. Next, Echoes of Memory examines scientists’ role in developing the bomb and offers immersive visits to the sites of the bombings. In this impactful virtual reality component, the video sweeps around the remains of a building as the distinctive voice of Carmen Consoli, a well-known Italian singer, is heard. She urges, “Let us see with our own eyes what remains of an inhumane act that struck a country with unprecedented violence.” It becomes apparent that these are the iconic ruins of the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The narration and three-dimensional video provide an intimate retelling of the stories of several children affected by the nuclear bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, allowing visitors to experience, if only for a few minutes, the harsh emotions and grim realities of war.

Next, the Library of Voices analyzes the idea of security based on nuclear weapons, the damage they have caused to people and the environment and the risks of accidental use. Viewers also learn about civil society efforts that led to the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The Table of the People then invites visitors to reflect on their individual responsibilities in creating a world free of nuclear weapons, offering workshops for students of all ages. For example, visitors are invited to write the word "peace" in various languages, and they can express what the exhibition has meant to them through even a single word. In response, children have written “fragile;” “war;” “love;” “destruction;” “Today I realized that peace for me means life and serenity;” “I wish all wars would end;” and “I wish the world would change!”

Finally, visitors pass through the Tunnel of Intention where they voice their personal commitment or determination into a microphone before leaving, to encourage them to advocate for peace in their own lives and communities. This invites reflection on the question posed throughout the exhibition as to what action viewers themselves can take to help create a world free of nuclear weapons.

In recognition of its innovative design, the Senzatomica exhibition has been included in the 2024 ADI Design Index, which showcases the best of Italian design across various categories, including industrial design, architecture, communication and social impact.

Over the past 10 years, Senzatomica has reached 80 cities and over 420,000 visitors with its exhibitions on nuclear disarmament, with 40% of attendees being students. In each city, hundreds of volunteers have been trained to accompany viewers, making them aware of their own capacity to act, and to dialogue and spread knowledge about nuclear disarmament.

In 2023, the first teacher training course developed by Senzatomica on peace education and nuclear disarmament was recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education.

As a partner of ICAN (the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), Senzatomica participated as part of civil society in the negotiations leading to the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).