Submitted by Ben Davenport on Thu, 25/06/2020 - 17:07
Jomon Matsuri: Changing perceptions on the Japanese past, contemporary art and archaeological inquiry
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic many international, national and regional events have been postponed, including exhibitions being organised by the collaborators: 'Arts of Jomon' at the Wiltshire Museum, Devizes (postponed from summer 2020), and 'Stonehenge and Jomon Japan' at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre (postponed from autumn 2020). Despite these postponements interest in the themes and topics addressed by these exhibitions continues.
While it is not currently possible for most people to get to experience the Jomon on sites or in museums directly, this project proposes to establish a new interactive platform to bring the Jomon heritage into people's homes through the creation of a 'virtual' Jomon Festival. Through a new digital learning platform, we will provide a new way for audiences to engage with and participate in the pleasure, fun and excitement of Jomon archaeology by bringing together contemporary modern Japanese artists with British-led Jomon research teams.
The project leaders: Dr Liliana Janik and Prof Simon Kaner, along with many international scholars, will provide insight into current research and expertise on Jomon archaeology. The project will be hosted simultaneously by the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre and the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures: the latter will also host an online gallery.
