Nuclear Anxiety
Over the course of the last decade, we’ve seen a fantastic selection of work on a huge variety of different conflicts and topics related to them. Below you will find a selection of pieces entered into our international competitions, by young people from around the world. This mini series is a good starting point when considering the many different ways conflict can affect people’s lives. We hope you will dive deeper into many of the topics and learn more.
Please be aware that the information below touches on topics related to war, conflict and its effects. It may therefore not be appropriate for all audiences.
EPHEMERAL TRANQUILITY
by Eva, 14-16, South Korea
The inspiration behind the painting came from the idea that war could take one’s everyday life and normality away in such a short amount of time. This idea is demonstrated through the placement of the bomb, looking as if it is about to drop in an instant. In contrast, the rest of the scenery other than the bomb looks peaceful and tranquil, representing calm before the storm. The painting portrays a scene where a bomb is about to drop in an undisturbed, serene environment, thus the title ‘Ephemeral Tranquility’. The silhouettes of people colored in black equate to the blank spaces left behind by the war, symbolizing their death. Furthermore, the giant hand that holds the bomb depicts the people that started and initiated the war. As a whole, the painting conveys that war could take away people’s day-to-day lives in an instant.
WE ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE
by Emile, 16-18, USA
Inspired by David Krieger’s poem “Where Did the Victims Go?”
(From his book shadow of the bomb, which discusses the implications of nuclear war)
An excerpt from the poem:
“Where else would the victims go but first
into the air, then into the water, then into the grasses,
and eventually into our food?
What does this mean?
It means that we breathe our victims,
that we drink them and eat them, without tasting
the bitterness, in our daily meals.
Using charcoal, I aim to evoke a sense of fear in my viewers and urge them to think about the magnitude of destruction nuclear weapons hold. We right now hold the power to destroy our entire world, to end the human race. No such weapons should exist. I drew much inspiration from survivors of nuclear bombs and nuclear testing and creatives who also feel strongly that a world with nuclear weapons teeters on the edge of destruction. Through my art, I advocate a world without nuclear weapons for future generations to come.
CLASH
by Jieun, 16-18, South Korea
This artwork conveys the destruction of war through symbolic elements. The broken glass, with barbed wires emerging from its holes, represents the fragility of peace and the creeping threat of violence. These barbed wires lead to a depiction of nuclear destruction, highlighting the ultimate consequence of unchecked conflict. The reflection of a crying child in the shattered glass emphasizes the innocent lives irreparably affected by war. IThis piece evokes a deep sense of empathy and a call to action against the perpetuation of violence.
GOODBYE MY DAUGHTER
by Jiyun, 14-16, USA
In the painting, a mother is hugging her daughter before going to serve in the war. She is crying in the painting because it might be the last time she gets to hug her daughter. They are painted inside the bomb explosion, and the peaceful background contrasts the chaotic bomb. The explosion also resembles a tree, which symbolizes a family tree. It shows that wars destroy families and peace.
BLOODY BREAK FROM THE NORM
by Edeline, 14-16, USA
This multimedia piece displays a charcoal drawing of children in their most natural state— innocently playing outside without a care in the world. In colored pencil are different toys that these children (and commonly many others) hold dear to their heart and love to play with. Each toy is attached by string to each respective child. Covering the whole piece is a red mesh cloth carefully stitched and taped to create folds representing the outward force, pushing the toys outwards to the periphery, caused by the bomb in the middle. The red color signifies the bloody nature of war. The depiction indicates the all consuming behavior of the bomb, representing war, and its ability to destroy all that has been and all that will be all that children know. Their opportunity of experiencing childhood and normalcy is taken away by war, represented by the toys that they have lost. The folded outward lines of the fabric are supposed to represent a break/cracking of the “perfect” life that children are supposed to live, where they don’t have a care in the world and can play with all the toys they want.
PIECE OF PEACE
by Hailey, 11-14, USA
This piece represents the affects of war on society. The doves are carrying a net full of symbols representing conflict, such as guns, bombs, falling buildings, etc. The doves symbolize peace and efforts to put an end to these damages caused. So, they are carrying away the destruction in hopes for a better tomorrow.
ON “OPPENHEIMER”
by Aliana, 16-18, Taiwan
"On 'Oppenheimer'" is a linocut print I created exploring my conflicted feelings towards the 2023 film "Oppenheimer". While I thought the movie was expertly crafted, I also found it a bit uncomfortable/awkward to watch, because my great-great-grandmother passed away in Hiroshima due to the atomic bomb. It felt weird to be watching a movie that focused solely on Oppenheimer's story and barely mentioned the innocent Japanese people whose lives he impacted so severely, including my ancestors.
The print depicts me sitting in a movie theatre turning away from the movie screen in conflict and confusion. The text reading "I mean it was a great movie, but...", which represents my conflicted feelings towards the movie. Additionally, the thought bubbles show parts of my Japanese heritage: photos of my brother labelled with his middle name "Kenji" (Japanese name), a Japanese flag, and the Japanese style porch which my grandmother passed away on. I chose to go with a linocut poster look for this piece because I wanted the piece to be a play off of a movie poster, which I thought would be fitting for my commentary on the war inspired film.
NUCLEAR: ANTAGONISM TO HUMANITY’S DESTRUCTION
by Yeowon (Stella), 14-16, USA
The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War ll were the only deployment of nuclear weapons in the history of humanity. But with the war between Russia and Ukraine currently in full swing, experts warn that this conflict could escalate into a World War lll, or a nuclear war between the United States and Europe versus Russia. Because technologies have advanced greatly compared to the 1940s, war that erupts in the modern world will come with more deadly consequences. My artwork is inspired by the threat of nuclear war to the planet. Once a full-scale nuclear war breaks out, it is most likely that humanity will be annihilated. The mankind will receive a fatal blow, with people dying from the enormous explosion itself or the carcinogenic radiation contamination afterwards. Not to mention that nature and its treasured ecosystems will undergo tremendous upheaval and irreparable damage. Through my artwork, I wanted to raise awareness to the unimaginable massacre nuclear war will pose to civilization and the fragility of the Earth against this weapon.
A VIVID DEMISE
by Marysabella, 14-16, USA
My piece, A Vivid Demise is inspired by nuclear war and its long lasting effects on our world. The piece shows a man representing the future and a woman representing the past. The woman is disappointed in humanity’s destruction of the earth and the man is still dealing with the war’s effects hundreds of years later.
WATCHING THE MUSHROOM CLOUD RISE
by Ava, 16-18, USA
The scene is a play on how some couples watch the sunset or sunrise together, however, the sun is replaced by an atomic bomb explosion. Nuclear weapons are often threatened during wartimes, and certain bombs are already widely used against civilians. Therefore, important moments in everyone’s life like ones involving love are ruined or prevented from happening because of war. I decided to use oil pastels to try to invoke a more cloudy or dusty style to match with the darker mood of the scene. The two figures are wearing blue for that is the color of peace, and are relatively ambiguous in their race or ethnicity to show how war can affect everyone and does affect everyone.
HOPE AND HEALING
by Thanh Ngân, 16-18, Vietnam
I want to talk about Sasaki Sadako, she was a victim of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima Japan in 1945. With dedication and determination, she folded 1,000 paper cranes in the hope it would bring her the health and happiness she desired. Unfortunately, she eventually passed away. But her story has since become synonymous with fighting the disease and seeking a better world, and paper cranes have emerged as a symbol of peace and nuclear disarmament.
When thinking about war, people often think about the pain and damage. Sadako is a victim of war, but I wanted to paint hopes and dreams for the future, that even though there is suffering, love, hope, and desire still exist. It is the hope of a better, more peaceful world.
The girl in the painting could be Sadako or anyone who is a victim of war, Paper cranes symbolize the desire for hope, I want us to join hands to fold a paper crane, stand up against war, protect peace, towards a beautiful life.
M.A.D.
by Irene, 16-18, USA
Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) is the concept that demonstrates how weapons like nuclear missiles and bombs, if ever used, wouldn’t end up benefitting anyone because of the extreme casualties they would cause for both sides. This artwork reflects on what the aftermath of that theory would look like by depicting a desolate landscape with the iconic fist of the Statue of Liberty poking out above the drastically impacted land. The man standing next to the wrist, whom the viewer can assume is Russian, tells his president that the “job” is finally done, but as he looks out at the horizon, he seems to wonder, “At what cost?”. Instead of looking into the past, by looking into a potential future where no one wins, this art piece aims to show the futility of some wars and why such conflict should be avoided.
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IRREVERSIBLE DESTRUCTION
by Tiffany, 14-16, Canada
Preventing future wars is a complex challenge with no simple answers. A Google or ChatGPT search will provide many responses, but I believe anti-war education is the most powerful tool. This reminded me of Einstein’s words: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” This made me think of Hiroshima—the atomic bomb that wiped out a city and killed hundreds of thousands. The unprecedented use of nuclear weapons in war remains a haunting reminder of destruction. To capture this, I sketched Hiroshima in ruins, stretching across the page like a scar on history. But the drawing alone was not enough—I wanted something tangible. I found a rock and a wooden stick—symbols of what humanity might be reduced to if another world war happens. I placed them on my artwork as a warning, urging people to ensure Einstein’s prediction never becomes reality. War destroys not just cities but lives, futures, and hope.
With the Russia-Ukraine war ongoing and peace negotiations uncertain, this issue is more pressing than ever. If my artwork makes people stop and think, perhaps that is the best way to prevent another war.
THE SHADOW OF THE MUSHROOM CLOUD
by Josie, 16-18, Canada
An anti-war art piece made from cotton and cardboard. It tells a story about war’s destruction and the fragile beauty of peace. Inspired by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and the wars still happening today, the artwork uses simple materials to send a powerful message.
At the top left, a dark gray cotton mushroom cloud—shaped with clay and sticks—hangs heavily, like a warning of nuclear danger. Below it, a cardboard house lies torn and broken, showing how war crushes homes and lives. In front, a small intact house stands with neatly painted windows and a door, symbolizing the quiet strength of peace.
Building this wasn’t easy: the cotton cloud kept collapsing, so I used sticks and hot glue to hold it up. The LED light inside the cloud looked too harsh at first, but adding more cotton layers softened the glow. The cardboard houses were lightweight and wobbly, but a heavy base kept everything steady.
The piece asks viewers to look closer.From the hopeful house to the ruins, and finally to the looming cloud. It’s a reminder of what we lose to violence and what we gain by choosing peace.
GAME THEORY AND WAR PREVENTION
by Emma Sophie, 11-14, USA
War has long been part of human history. I have always wondered why nations would go to devastating war instead of seeking a compromise through negotiation? Would it be possible to stop people from fighting wars if we teach political leaders about compassion and sympathy? While compassion is an important human quality, it alone is not enough. Conflicts often arise from complex strategic interactions, different political and ideological interests, and the pursuit of power, which are not always swayed by emotional considerations.
My interest in understanding human behavior and decision-making was shaped by my fascination with game theory. It studies how people make decisions based on their expectations of others’ actions. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a classic example. As part of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union, both countries had to weigh the potential gains and losses of their next steps. The concept of Mutual Assured Destruction eventually convinced both sides to negotiate rather than going to a nuclear war, which would have destroyed the entire world.
While game theory might not be sufficient on its own, it offers a pragmatic framework for modeling conflict, deterrence, and cooperation, offering potential routes for peaceful resolutions.
MUTATED WOUND
by YiWen, 16-18, China
Nuclear weapons are among the world's most fearsome weapons, and their impact on both people and nature cannot be underestimated. At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, American troops dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Nuclear weapons will burn people's skin, destroy their DNA, and turn every living thing in the land into a monster. My work "Mutated Wounds" hopes to appeal to people to reject war and reject nuclear weapons.
THE SEA THAT SLEEPS FOREVER
by Ruixi, 9-11, China
With the discharge of nuclear sewage in Japan, people are in a panic. My work takes the theme of opposing the discharge of nuclear sewage as a warning. I use vivid black and white to represent the polluted sea water in black, and white represents the area of human activities. The tears of the dove cry are the voice for the ocean, hoping that the home can be saved and protected, so that all people can work together for the future of the earth.
1986
by Xing, 16-18, China
The artwork is created to reflect the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine. The background behind painted the moment of explosion when nuclear reactor power plant was released into the air, causing hundred thousands of casualties. The string pull painting outline a Chernobyl cleaner wearing the liquidator suit. The green strings is an imitation of the radioactive rays in respond the nuclear explosion.
THE SILENCE OF ANGUISH
by Oluwadarasimi, 11-14, Nigeria
My inspiration for this piece originated from the need to reveal the misery, horror, torment and agony of a young child who has witnessed War. My motivation was drawn from the experiences of thousands of children who survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Russia, Ukraine and Gaza and insurgencies in Sub-Sahara Africa. The effect of these is that thousands of children were displaced, orphaned and traumatised by war and insurgent activities.
The despair of the child depicts a cry for help. A plea for the War to end, for him to be reunited with his family and for the world to be at peace. In the face of the lingering anguish, he sought for comfort in a world that lacked empathy for innocent children. Though the child's voice was silenced by brazen gunfires and missiles, his resilience demonstrates the strength of a child in the face of unimaginable atrocities . Hence, the title of my art work: THE TRAUMA OF WAR served as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of protecting our young citizens from the ravages of conflict.
MAN RETURNING TO MOURN NAGASAKI & HIROSHIMA
by Eliska, 11-14, New Zealand
Inspired by a photo of a man returning to Hiroshima.
UNREST
by Abigail, 16-18, United States
My conflict is about the Battle of Hiroshima which was one of the deadliest battle in the marine corps. I'm trying to say that despite this conflict then leading to the bombing of Japan, the United states now celebrates peacefully and patriotically, and that after war there is a calmness but even so it is unsettling because war may still occur. It reflects "Life After Conflict" as after conflict there is that calmness but still there may be turmoil where one is afraid if this calmness will remain so i wanted to demonstrate that.
AFTER THE BOMBING
by Nela, 11-14, Czech Republic
The reason I chose cities after WWII is because I think that how they destroyed cities was horrible. I think that sometimes people don't think about the damage that wars can cause to innocent people. A lot of people lost their homes during the war. I want to remind people about the damage done during WWII and that the mistakes committed in the past should not be repeated.
HIDING UNDER THE SUGARCANE
by Field Alexandra, 16-18, USA
Hiding Under the Sugarcane Field is about my grandma's childhood experiences hiding in sugarcane barrels during the Japanese air raids. The Japanese occupation of the Philippines greatly disrupted my grandma’s life. When the Japanese invasion spread throughout the country, everyone began scrambling madly. My great-grandfather withdrew all of the money from the bank to hide the money in pickle bottles around the house and began to store food supplies. Soon after the invasion, many people started to disappear as they were tortured and burned by Japanese soldiers, so my family went into hiding in the countryside. My grandma and the other neighborhood children were told to hide in barrels at the sugarcane farm during the air raids. They were given sugarcane to chew on as candy to calm them from the sounds of the bombing. To this day, my grandma who is now ninety years old, can describe her memories hiding inside the barrels with the taste of the sugar cane on her tongue. In the three years of occupation, the sugarcane farm became my grandma’s refuge.
EMBRACEMENT
by Mak, 11-14, Hongkong
How does war affect people's life? Usually what would come to mind is bombing, nuking, fighting among countries. The aftermath is the key in this piece of artwork, a new perspective that is seldomly thought of.
This piece shows a man, the almighty Jesus, comforting a child in despair. Just by this simple action, we are able to tell war isn't something in life you get over easily. In this situation, we can allow ourselves to think of the reason of the child's agony. Was it a bomb that set off in their home, did her parents get killed? This artwork mainly uses dull colours, describing hardships, simplicity and purity. The hardships the child faced during the war, the simplicity of the life that she once was content with but now was gone, the purity and hope for the child's future as Jesus takes her up in a warm embrace. The flickering bright light is the only contrast in this artwork, symbolising the ounce of hope the child has to get her life back together after the war.
In conclusion, this artwork shows the cruelty of society and the hope life has yet to give, symbolising both wrath and warmth.
FEAR AND COURAGE
by Viara, 11-14, Bulgaria
Alina and Marko lived with their family in the small town of Maryinka (Donetsk region). Alina was 14 years old and Marko was only a year and a half old when the war started. In the autumn of 2022 the town was completely destroyed. The children miraculously survived the bombing. They stood for a long time among the ruins and looked frightened around for their parents. Unfortunately, no one else in the family had survived. Their home was gone too. Everything was buried in dust. Their grief was indescribable. Marko began to cry in fear. Alina was a brave girl. She took her little brother on her back and began to sing to calm him down. Her song echoed among the ruins, sunk in grief. Alina stared into the distance where little lights twinkled and bravely walked on to seek salvation…
DREAMS GO UP IN SMOKE
by Sara, 16-18, India
When bombs fall, dreams inevitably go up in smoke. A war stricken country has the most devastating effect on its youngest inhabitants. A child in such a country loses any chance to hope, much less dream of a future for themselves. The dreams of creating art, writing stories, engineering new technologies, developing new sciences go up in smoke as peace dissipates, and the fury of bombing begins.
THE INESCAPABLE TRAUMA OF WAR
by Erin, 14-16, South Korea
The piece “The Inescapable Trauma of War” encapsulates the stories of those who have been greatly affected by the war and suffer its negative effects even after seeking refuge in a safer country. Wars not only destroy physical buildings and places but can break the intangibles as well, including one’s well-being and mental state. During my school research project on the lives of Ukrainian refugees, I came across a story of a young boy who still carries the trauma of war on his back. Fortunately, he was able to move to a nearby country free from the war, yet he still hides under his bed at 3 am due to his memories of the bombings that would typically take place at that time. His story is only one of the millions out there. I felt it important to share how a physical escape doesn’t necessarily mean a mental escape and thus decided to represent this through my piece.
BLITZ
by Evie, 11-14, England
In my piece, I want to convey how bombings do not just physically affect the places and people. I wanted to show the impact emotionally war can have.
BURNING WRECKAGE
by Dionysia G., 14-16, Greece
This piece is my attempt to portray the destruction and pain caused by a devastating terrorist attack in Somalia on October 14, 2017. Two twin bombings occurred in the center of the capital city, Mogadishu, leaving at least 512 people dead and 316 injured. The truck bomb exploded near a fuel tanker and caused the explosion to exacerbate and so many people were burnt and mutilated beyond recognition. What inspired me to choose this horrific act of violence is that most people do not know about the deadly conflict going on in Somalia, and I wanted to change that. This was my attempt to shed light on the suffering of an entire nation that usually goes unnoticed, despite the horrors they face daily. Using a reference photo, I tried to depict the destruction caused on both property and people, and how innocent civilians were once again victims of a horrific terrorist attack. The man looks at his home, but all he can see now is burning wreckage.
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF WAR ON KIDS
by Sruthi, 9-11, USA
My artwork depicts the psychological impact of war on kids. Through this sketch, I want to express the inner turmoil of a kid who had lost family members in the war and witnessed several horrific scenes of bloodshed, explosions, tanks, helicopter bombings, and the devastating destruction of his hometown. The tears reflect the fear, loneliness, and the burden of carrying the ravages of war for a lifetime.
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON EDUCATION
by Bhavana, 11-14, USA
This artwork is based on the current situation in Ukraine. As an effect of the damage through these events, students were heavily impacted. Power generators needed to be utilized to get homework and educational resources, as bombing caused destruction upon resources necessary for electricity and power. Students had to move away from their rightful homes due to such destruction. It was a difficulty to even get in contact with teachers. The students of Ukraine couldn’t learn as they had to. Based on such events, I’ve created this artistic representation, whereas we are able to see the effort of a student to study, with light provided only by a power generator, in the midst of war. The lives of students are truly being negatively impacted by war, and awareness must be spread.
BOMBING EVERYWHERE
by Nicolas, 9-11, Malta
Innocent people are getting killed by bombs being thrown toward their village. Blood all over the ground and nature being destroyed by explosions For me, war means that innocent people get killed or are left alone with few things to survive.
INNOCENCE IN WAR
by Kaitlin, 16-18, United States
My piece is about the innocents paying for wars that they shouldn't be involved in. It depicts a young child in a "earthquake" position under a desk--as some places do in the face of a potential bombing--embedded into an explosion, showing how they are harmed despite doing what they were supposed to do to protect themselves.
When I told a friend about Never Such Innocence, they said I should listen to Vantage by Halfy and Winks (https://open.spotify.com/track/6pajV1M91Uc0UO1yvaaxBC?si=nhEHAgLISxeReqbruFbFQw). The song is about how we forget our own humanity to try to fight for what we believe in, and forget who we are hurting in the process. The lines I took the greatest inspiration from are "we sow the seeds of peace not sorrow/we are the souls who pay for the war", describing how those who are peaceful (women, children, etc.) end up paying for the war they didn't start.
This is what war means to me; we see it in the past, we see it in the present (Ukraine) and, unfortunately, we will likely see it in the future. History may not repeat itself exactly, but it sure will rhyme.
THE WAR
by Wenyu, 16-18, China
When the war came, the people temporarily set up tents as shelters in a remote area. Unfortunately, they still did not escape the attack of the war. A missile fell from the sky, and both the elderly and children fled in all directions.
I think war exists as a horror, it destroys anything good and no one is spared. So I think of the scene of the explosion. I wanted to create a sense of tension for the audience by the way a missile is about to touch the ground. In the picture, the sky has been polluted, and the dust on the ground has been kicked up, forming a hole. If the next second waits for the missile to hit the ground, will people be blown up too? The scene of flying flesh and blood may become the next page of this painting.
Black Doves
by Rishika, 11-14, India
I named this painting as Black Doves because Doves are a symbol of peace, but when situations like war happen, the peace is unseen.This artwork is a picturization of what war means to me.The pen symbolizes how negotiations & treaties are made and broken.The earth is in chains, which shows how war affects the world and its population and how earth becomes a slave when war destroys the environment of our mother nature.The colours I have used are red, which depict blood and death. I have highlited some of the major war elements like bombings, missiles, army attacks, etc. In my opinion war can happen because of any social, political or economical issue.War leads to death and damage, and things are never the same after war. Which ever country wins, loss is faced by both. It is extremely important that nations should work to prevent unnecessary violence and build a peaceful nation.
CONTRADICTION
by Joowon, 16-18, Canada
This painting depicts people having fun watching fireworks and a war veteran suffering from fireworks.
Through a documentary, I saw a war veteran suffering from PTSD even after the war ended. After seeing this, I realized that war continues to cause suffering in the lives of those who participated in it even after it is over. Therefore, through this painting, I wanted to depict veterans suffering from the effects of war. The generation that did not experience war simply enjoys watching fireworks, but veterans who experienced war are suffering and covering their ears because the sound made by fireworks sounds like a gunshot, even though a lot of time has passed.
AFTERMATH
by Columbus, 16-18, China
2033 ---- Ten years after the nuclear war, there is no order in the world, law and morality no longer exist. On this land, the surviving people are still biting each other in order to seize the last resources, and they have formed various forces, among which the strongest force is a violent organization called the Blood Wolf Gang entrenched in the municipal square. Its gang boss Wolf head was originally a famous wrestling champion, after the nuclear war, he was infected by radiation and became very violent and bloodthirsty, and his body became more and more beast, he drew a large wave of waste land refugees into the gang, rampage on the waste land, burning and robbing.
UNSEEN HEROES
by Khadijah, 11-14, England
I have designed a bird out of miniature jewels as for my entry. It shows the colourful wildlife before war- the immense beauty of nature, getting ruined and covered by bombs. It’s atrocious to watch in real-life, and worse when you sympathise to feel their pain. Innocent creatures are often forgotten, but just imagine how they feel. No voice to speak, no knowledge to understand and no ability to find safety. My entry draws attention to creatures, not just humans, to show their view. Let’s change not only for our future, but for the future of those unsung animals heroes as well.
GONNA BLOW UP
by Hyunseo, 14-16, USA
This piece shows the emotions veterans would have felt with PTSD after the wars. Many people, even though they fought in war a long time ago, they still live in that moment. They face guilt, depression, anxiety, etc. Some people commit suicide due to those emotions. I wanted to show the unbearable feelings people could get through the bombs taking the head position. The person is on fire, just about to blow up. However, I also wanted to show that they could choose what to do by giving the controller to the person in the middle.
EXISTENTIAL ANGST
by Jua, 11-14, Singapore
This painting depicts pure children full of innocence and happiness in a cruel war.
Overall, they are drawn with children against the backdrop, with fighter jets detonating bombs and war-torn buildings to represent war. Additionally, they used mostly dark colors because they were in a hopeless war. On the contrary, children full of hope and happiness were drawn in bright colors, and children were drawn with crayons, which are usually used by young children to paint. The children in the picture are painting on the wall or playing with toys, and the blond boy at the front is flying a paper airplane.
In fact, the paper plane symbolizes hope, and in the picture, it symbolizes that children have hope even in war.
BEFORE AND AFTER
by Seoyul, 14-16, South Korea
My piece shows the before and after of a war, and how it would affect our lives. The before is shown by a hand holding a picture which is ripped and dirty. In the picture, you can see a living room before the war, and the two kids sitting on the floor pointing at an airplane flying in the air. However, the reality shows a destroyed living room broken toys on the floor. You can also see the plane the two kids were looking at being replaced by military airplanes dropping bombs. The house is nearly unrecognisable.
WHITE MEMORY
by Hua, 9-11, Taiwan
As the dreadful war commenced, the once vibrant land gradually descended into a haunting silence. Buildings leaned from bomb blasts, homes lay shattered and desolate. People sought to escape the earthly hell, yet all they saw were monochrome patches of broken earth, unable to flee the war, slowly succumbing to hunger or freezing to death.
After the smoke of war dissipates, the free dove spreads its wings again, though once wounded, now displaying even stronger resilience. Amidst shattered cities, it becomes a symbol of hope, soaring over ruins, bringing comfort and hope to the survivors, heralding the arrival of peace and reconstruction. Each flap of its wings seems to narrate the miracle of life, gradually healing the wounds of war, bringing forth new vitality and the dawn of hope.
TAKE ME HOME
by Sofya, 14-16, USA
“Take Me Home” encapsulates both the plight and the collective resistance of Ukraine. As a Ukrainian by blood, I am deeply connected to communities suffering from the current Russia-Ukraine war. I remember my friends from Lviv telling me about how they cowered in a bathtub from a passing bomb. They were stuck in an orphanage while their parents were deployed; unable to go to school because the closest bombing shelter was a block away and too small to fit all the students. I remember my time volunteering at a refugee center in Warsaw, filled with drained mothers, silent, wide-eyed babies, and running, barefoot children in tattered clothing. I remember how they clung to my hip, straining for any kind of comfort and affection. These were people living in survival mode, those who lost their homes, their families, their lives in Ukraine. But no matter who I talked to, these people, my people, were united in their collective hope, love for Ukraine, and yearning for their homeland. “I want to go home. Take me home. I will go home.” Their voices of resistance echo in my heart.
THE REMNANT OF WAR
by Yeony, 14-16, United Arab Emirates
When I read the topic of this competition "Life after conflict", I immediately thought of war, and then the people who were left behind after the war. When a war ends, it never really means that everything can turn what it was like before the war. I chose to draw a girl screaming in pain when she remembered the chaos and the loud booming from all the bombs and attacks because I thought that this was one of the effective ways to show how people can get permanent damage from the war. This could be a personal trauma, such as losing a family member, being left alone, or having the leave their hometown. I wanted to reinforce the message that war or any type of conflict can leave a remnant, and it cannot be undone.
THE ATOMIC DAWN
by Ignacia, 11-14, Indonesia
HIBAKUSHA
by Catalina, 16-18, France
I decided to focus on the American atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 after reading articles surrounding the 75th anniversary of VJ day. While researching the events and reading survivor testimonies, I was shocked not only by the immediate devastation wrought on the cities and their inhabitants, but also by the lasting physical and psychological effects on survivors. This poem combines elements of several true stories and addresses the stigma surrounding a ‘Hibakusha’, or atomic bomb survivor. I was struck by the injustice that after watching people die in ghastly ways, losing homes and family members, and themselves suffering from radiation poisoning, the victims of the nuclear weapon attacks were feared, shunned, and - very often - silenced.
The word shackles her ankles, crawling up
the keloid scars and rough patches of skin
to scrawl itself over her face. Hibakusha.
Roaring out of the past, a white flash and
mushroom cloud of fire swells over the
horizon. She remembers walking over
the bodies melting into the debris,
blackened shadows on the concrete
howling a desperate plea for water.
Three days later, they found her father’s
buckle among his bones. She buried him
alone, her mother turned to ash in the sky.
Now, clutching her fiancé’s hand,
she feels a family slip away once more.
His parents remember the bomb
and shy away from her Devil’s blood,
shaking their heads and pressing
images of children with stumps for arms
into their son’s brain. Hibakusha. She
reaches up a hand to trace his cheekbone
in reassurance, but he has turned cold.
So, unlocking their fingers, she drops the
ring into his palm, tiptoes to kiss his
cheek, and turns towards a future as
dust-clouded as the past:
Hibakusha. A nickname she will never outgrow.
I’m cold and alone in the darkness,
with only an emergency alarm that flickers.
No one has visited me for months.
I know many of my kind are scattered around the countryside.
I wait for the time I am used,
but I know the horror it will bring.
An ancestor caused a massive mushroom cloud.
Its shockwave killed people from every walk of life.
|My power of destruction is 30 times more devastating than Little Boy.|
I can picture myself launching on a clear summer day,
traveling with haste.
I would scream in the air,
my mind filled with the idea of nearly blowing up a whole country.
That capability is why I hope I am never used,
and simply destroyed for scrap.
I would wish for my metal to be used for a wheelchair.
But, the fact that I remain in my silo keeps peace in my nation and for my allies.
THE POWER TO PREVENT WAR
by Neo, 11-14, South Korea
Living beside a couple nuclear armed countries, I fear that my small nation (South Korea) might one day be destroyed. It seems that those nations keep peace in the region through the destruction they can cause. North Korea still stands today in part because of their decision to arm themselves.
If there is a World War III, it is said that the next war would be fought with sticks and stones. That implies that nuclear warfare would largely wipe out human civilization. That thought keeps the peace.
LITTLE BOY
by Lauren B., 16-18, Scotland
In this poignant piece, the author reflects on the creation and devastating impact of the atomic bomb known as "Little Boy," dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Through vivid imagery and emotive language, the poem explores the human toll of nuclear warfare, highlighting the widespread suffering and long-lasting effects on communities beyond the immediate blast zone. The author questions the rationale behind the proliferation of nuclear weapons by various nations, expressing concern over the potential catastrophic consequences in the hands of unpredictable leaders. Ultimately, the poem serves as a solemn reminder of the urgent need for global cooperation and disarmament to safeguard humanity from the horrors of nuclear destruction.
The “little boy” created in 1945
Was the first of its kind
A wonder, a marvel of humankind
Was made by great minds
So it was aligned to hit a target
Hiroshima in mind
But they were so blind to see what was their demise on August 6, 1945
Approximately 140,000 people to die by “little boy”
But let’s not be blind. Neighboring cities, towns, villages even countries nearby
Were affected by all kinds: cancer, radiation poisoning, broken bones, burns and the mental scars of what they’ve seen or what they heard
We can say that we left nuclear bombs behind
But isn’t that blind somewhat an awful lie?
Do have I do you remind you In 2022,
I find out that 9 countries had made their own renditions of “little boy”
United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North
Korea, and Israel
Why do we do this?
Didn’t the cries of Hiroshima
Remind us of the consequences of nuclear bombs?
Didn’t their lives matter enough to make us stop?
Why did we do this?
I know they are used for our defense
A weapon to show other countries to mind what they do
But in other countries, can't we trust them enough, through and through?
I mean what if their leader is someone unkind, someone out of their mind
And they have power that can wipe out mankind
What will we do?
I know that it’s not my decision to make
But I worry for someone who has this fate
As this cruel fate, as this fate is unkind
All I can truly say is
that I truly worry about mankind
