Closing Soon…Trench Life and A Letter from Japan

Closing Soon…Trench Life and A Letter from Japan

Ottawa, Ontario, March 18, 2009 — There are only a few weeks left to see two special exhibitions at the Canadian War Museum: A Letter from Japan: The Photographs of John Swope, on until March 29, and Trench Life: A Survival Guide, on until April 13.

A Letter from Japan, organized by the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, presents a vivid and moving exploration of the aftermath of war through the photographs taken by photojournalist John Swope at the end of the Second World War. More than a hundred prints document the liberation of Allied prisoners of war, and explore the nature of early post-war Japan through personal images of both victors and vanquished. Swope’s own words, drawn from his remarkable 144-page letter to his wife, complement his work and detail his thoughts and emotions as he worked in Japan. A Letter from Japan closes on March 29, 2009.

In the harsh environment of the trenches of the First World War, Canadian soldiers created a distinct and vibrant culture. Trench Life presents soldiers’ experiences through the cultural products they created to make sense of their time at war and cope with the strain of unending death and destruction. The exhibition, which presents a unique and endearing side of Canada during the First World War, explores the personal dimensions of this chapter of history with words, images, art and songs created by the front line soldiers. Trench Life closes on April 13, 2009.

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