Subsidized an event: Third Art Archives Symposium at Keio University, Tokyo

The Art Archive Symposium has been held since 2010. The first session entitled "Estate and Utilization. Where to Store An Archive?," was followed by a second symposium “Concerning the Formal Appearance of a Platform” in 2012. In 2013 the JCRI subsidized the third issue of the symposium "Reconsidering the Archives of Art. The Substance of Materials and the Interface."

Exhibiting artworks in art museums or historical museums often yields a variety of materials documenting the different steps in the production process, such as manuscripts, drafts, notebooks, and sketchbooks. Presumably, as matters stand documents often remain concealed at the artist’s house, or they are buried in a closed off museum storage. The importance of conserving these materials as cultural treasure, as well as publishing them as archive, has gradually been recognized. According to the Policy of Cultural Affairs in Japan issued by the Commissioner of the Agency of Cultural Affairs the cultural heritage of the Arts shall be ensured and handed down to the next generation. In the field of the Fine Arts the trend is towards building archives.

Following the past two symposia that dealt with the questions, what kind of art related material should be preserved in the archive, and how it could be opened for the public, as well as the importance of utilizing such information in general, this third issue concerned the substantial composition of the archive, furthermore the interface needed to bring the material to focus and to become able to share it with an interested audience was discussed again. The symposium offered an opportunity to consider and think through the preservation of artworks and production-related material, how to spread it, fostering art research and scientific progress with having regard to all points, as well as to report on the current state of information-sharing.

The third symposium “Reconsidering the Archives of Art – The Substance of Material and the Interface” took place on March 23, 2013 at Mita Campus, Keio University, Tokyo. After the presentations the panelists and attendees were invited to exchange opinions and continue discussions during a casual reception.

Participating Speakers

• Panelists
• 　Mr. Susumu Yano: Curator, Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo
• 　Mr. Shigeo Izumisawa: President, Top Art Ltd., Kamakura
• 　Mr. Hiroshisa Mori: Assistant Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies,
  　Nichibunken, Kyoto
• 　Mr. Sen Useaki: Lecturer / Archivist at Keio University Art Center, Tokyo
• Respondent / Session Coordinator
• 　Ms. Yohko Watanabe: Professor / Curator, Keio Universtiy Art Center
• Discussion Coordinator
• 　Mr. Tsutomu Mizusawa: Director, The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama