Nobuho (Nobi) Nagasawa, a professor in the Department of Art at Stony Brook University, is participating in an exhibition at the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Visual Arts Gallery. The exhibition, titled "Atomic Cowboy: The Daze After," marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and examines the effects of nuclear weapons from various perspectives.
The exhibition highlights historical events such as the series of nuclear tests conducted in Nevada between 1951 and 1958. During this period, many Hollywood westerns were filmed nearby. Concerns later emerged about increased cancer rates among film industry workers who had been exposed to radiation during these productions.
Nagasawa’s engagement with themes of radiation began in 1984 while working on an earthwork firing project in central Japan. She described a key moment: “After seven days of continuous firing, a sudden localized rainfall occurred only at the site, triggered by rising air currents that seeded the clouds — an event reminiscent of the ‘Black Rain’ — the radioactive rainfall that followed the atomic bombing of Hiroshima,” she said. “This experience sparked my curiosity about the broader consequences of nuclear events, particularly the environmental and human effects of the mushroom cloud.”
Her interest deepened after reading Takashi Hirose’s book "Why John Wayne Died" upon moving to Los Angeles in 1987. “His book was never published in the US due to its controversial subject matter, as it explored potential links between the deaths of actors and actresses and their exposure to atomic bomb testing sites,” said Nagasawa. “The Atomic Energy Commission refused to acknowledge any of this, as did the Hollywood community. Reading it deepened my inquiry, connecting historical atomic events to cultural and cinematic narratives, and shaping my ongoing exploration of how art can reveal these hidden intersections between human life, the environment, and history.”
"Atomic Cowboy: The Daze After" was first exhibited at Los Angeles' Daniel Saxon Gallery in 1992. It brought attention to high cancer rates among cast and crew members from "The Conqueror," a film shot near a nuclear test site. For this anniversary commemoration, Nagasawa’s work is shown alongside "Take it home, for (__) shall not repeat the error," curated by Souya Handa from Hiroshima. Handa’s exhibition traces connections from uranium mining for World War II bombs through subsequent U.S. nuclear testing to Fukushima.
Nagasawa’s installation features "Nuke-Cuisine," consisting of 835 cans labeled “Cloud of Mushroom Soup.” Each can represents one announced American nuclear test from 1945 to 1990. NJCU displays 91 cans along with wall installations containing bomb data and portraits of affected actors.
Reflecting on her work three decades later, Nagasawa noted how her focus has shifted toward current global issues: “When I first exhibited The Atomic Cowboy: The Daze After in 1992, I sought to reveal how myths of progress, heroism, and entertainment concealed the violence of both nuclear testing and environmental destruction,” she said. “Today, the work resonates with contemporary realities — ongoing wars, nuclear threats, mass displacement, and accelerating ecological collapse. The radioactive dust of the 1950s has become a metaphor for the pollutants, carbon emissions, and moral debris we continue to generate. The installation now serves as a mirror, reflecting how cycles of denial and exploitation persist, and how the wounds of the earth remain inseparable from those of humanity.”
Her exhibition contrasts images depicting human vulnerability with Hollywood's portrayal of strength through cowboy characters. She explained that her aim is not nationalistic but universal: “When I first began working on The Atomic Cowboy in 1991...I don’t approach this from a national perspective — I see myself as a citizen of the planet. The story I’m addressing transcends national identity. Nuclear power recognizes no borders, no ideologies, and no hierarchies of fame or privilege. It is an equal-opportunity destroyer.”
"The Conqueror," filmed near Yucca Flat in Nevada during active testing periods in 1954 with stars like John Wayne and Susan Hayward involved extensive exposure to radioactive dust for both cast members—including Native American extras—and local residents; over forty percent developed cancer within decades.
Nagasawa hopes her work will encourage viewers to consider connections between conflict and environmental harm: “The work is not simply about the past but about the continuum of destruction — how war, industry, and consumption have shaped both culture and climate,” she said. “I want the audience to sense the fragility of the earth as a living organism... Ultimately...invites reflection on accountability and empathy...that healing one requires acknowledging the other.”