Exhibition Essay

Doom Town: The People and Landscape of Atomic Testing

    In the Knowledge Center by the @One there is a new exhibition about the landscape and people surrounding atomic testing sites. This exhibition is based on the graphic history book by UNLV historian Andy Kirk and artist Kristian Purcell. The book is published by Oxford University Press in 2017. The exhibit focuses on the above ground detonation at the Nevada Testing Site between the years 1953 and 1961. There were several reasons for the testing. Officially, this testing helped advance the technology and power of nuclear weapons. Unofficially, scientists were there to test the effects of radiation from the bombs on the surrounding environment, including the landscape, native plants, animals and the people. Referred to as “human guinea pigs” the people tested were mainly employees at the site and military personnel. But the effects has affected individuals downwind from the site in southern Utah.

This exhibition is has an almost playful feeling to it. Much of the displayed photos are in the 1950s graphic novel style with the pictures having word bubbles. The first display I notice was a large printout of a ballerina dancing in of what appears to be a mushroom cloud from a bomb. The photo of the ballerina is surrounded by panels of different dance moves and people talking about her dancing. It is an interesting piece because it adds both a playful and satirical feeling to a serious topic. The bubbles of conversation talking about how the dancing was something new and exciting for the local paper to talk about. This photo, along with the conversation downplay the seriousness of the atomic site, even the locate people notice this and comment on this. Why the ballerina performed in front of a mushroom cloud remains up to the viewer’s interpretation. For me, I imagine this was meant to downplay the seriousness of the testing sites. And based on the bubble conversation, it worked.

Overall, the exhibition is very informative and well down. I liked to interpretation of the graphic novel format and how the exhibition entwines the information and images.