The Work of Art in Contemporary Japan: Inner and outer worlds of creativity
Being ‘creative’ appears to require two distinct forms of attention: an outward-facing engagement with the world around oneself, including with the work of others and with the materials one employs; and a kind of withdrawal into the self, or into a relatively solitary space characterised by a sense of focus and immersion. This project explores the relationship between these ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ worlds, as mutually entwined dimensions of artistic production, as a way of enlarging our understanding of the nature of creativity and, especially, how experiences and expressions of creativity are shaped and constrained by social, cultural and institutional contexts.
This project is funded by AHRC.