The gaze on ‘primitive’ others in Japanese modern art: ethnography, art, and curatorial perspectives

Abstract

This essay explores the gaze directed at ‘primitive’ others by Japanese modern artists Hijikata Hisakatsu (1900–1977) and Miyatake Tatsuo (1892–1960), focusing on both art and ethnography in the southern territories of Imperial Japan. By analyzing their artworks, writings, and curatorial perspectives, I detail how Hijikata and Miyatake represented ‘primitive’ others in their art and curatorial projects when they returned to Japan from their field trips and how they developed their primitivizing gaze during the era of imperialism and colonialism. This essay aims to reevaluate their works relating to primitivism, clarifying the cultural and social contexts that had enabled them to explore the gaze directed at ‘primitive’ others and thus reinforcing stereotypical images.

Keywords:

• primitivism
• modernism
• primitive art
• modern art
• Japanese art

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Hijikata Hisakatsu. Yube no Annyui (Ennui at Evening), 1952. Wood, 44×84×4.3 cm. Collection of The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama. Image reproduced online: https://www01.musetheque.jp/webmuseum/detail?cls=attkn&pkey=3903.

2 Hijikata Hisakatsu. Yube no Annyui (Ennui at Evening), c. 1970. Watercolor on paper, 30×54 cm. Collection of The Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama. Image reproduced online: https://www01.musetheque.jp/webmuseum_en/detail?cls=attkn&pkey=3914.

3 The University Museum of International Cultures, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies prepared two exhibitions about Miyatake Collection. One is Miyatake Tatsuo Collection: Sekai Genshi Mingei Zushu kara (Miyatake Tatsuo Collection: Catalogs of World Primitive Falk Crafts) from February 17 to March 28, 2020, the other one is Miyatake Tatsuo Collection: Genshi Geijutsu heno Akogare (Miyatake Tatsuo Collection: Aspiration for Primitive Art) from April 20 to August 5, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition in 2020 was canceled and the exhibition in 2022 was opened only for the university members (University Museum of International Cultures, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies 2020; 2022). The museum’s further investigations are expected to reveal more details about Miyatake’s field research in Taiwan.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hanako Shinohara

Hanako Shinohara is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Global Human Sciences at Kobe University. She was previously a researcher at Tokyo Gakugei University. She received a Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Tsukuba. Her research interests include Japanese modern art, craft, museums, primitivism, and Mingei theory and its movements.