"Localizing Collectivism: Do-It-Yourself DNA in Modern and Contemporary Art in Japan", by Dr. Reiko Tomii, Art Historian

Abstract

By now, it has been widely accepted that there are multiple modernisms, whose multiplicity lies in diverse historical contexts within which works that look similar in form to Western modernism come to have different significance when understood within their local circumstances. Collectivism is one such category that demands careful consideration. It has long held a central place in the art world of modern Japan since the late 19th century, and it continues to shape not only avant-garde and contemporary practices but also the entire institutionalization of modern art in the country. The focus on “operation” (one of the two kinds of labor that constitute an artist’s labor, together with “expression”) will also help us understand the relationship of modern and contemporary art in society.