Newport Street Gallery presents The Power and the Glory, opening on 28 March and running until 31 August 2025. Curated by Connor Hirst, this exhibition features a selection of scholars’ rocks, displayed alongside archive photographs documenting the atomic age. Spanning three galleries, the show explores the relationship between nature, technology, and humanity.

Scholars’ rocks, or gongshi, are naturally formed stones that have been collected and admired in East Asia for centuries. They are valued for their texture, abstract shapes, and resemblance to natural landscapes. The exhibition displays a variety of scholars’ rocks, including Taihu stones and translucent agates, each chosen for its unique appearance and historical significance.

Alongside the rocks, The Power and the Glory presents a series of archival photographs from key moments in the history of nuclear science and warfare. These include images from nuclear weapons tests such as the Trinity test in 1945, U.S. tests at Bikini Atoll between 1946 and 1958, and French nuclear tests in the 1960s. Additionally, the exhibition includes photographs documenting the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

While scholars’ rocks have traditionally been objects of contemplation and reverence, the photographs of nuclear tests and their aftermath highlight humanity’s destructive use of natural forces. Together, the rocks and photographs provide a reflection on the complex relationship between humans, technology, and nature.

The exhibition has been arranged in association with HENI, and is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

The Power and the Glory is presented alongside Raging Planet, a group exhibition featuring works by Angela Bulloch, Roger Hiorns, Oliver Marsden, Hwang Samyong, Bosco Sodi, and Keith Tyson, which explores contemporary responses to the natural world.

Exhibition details:

Dates: 28 March – 31 August 2025
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free Entry

Unknown (US Army) Hood, Operation Plumbbob, Nevada, July 5, 1957, 1957, Silver gelatin print with air brush and gouache retouching, 8 x 6 3/4 in, 203 x 170mm Photographed by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd.