Speaker: Kikkawa, Hideki (TOBUNKEN)

About the Talk

This presentation examines the modern and contemporary art archives at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN), with particular emphasis on their composition, collaborative endeavours with other institutions, and their significance as invaluable research resources. In partnership with organisations such as the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures and the Getty Research Institute, TOBUNKEN has contributed to the expansion of the foundations of art research by advancing the digitisation and dissemination of Japanese art materials. The Institute’s archives include a wide range of resources, such as materials for the Year Book of Japanese Art, artefacts from the Meiji-Taisho Art History Compilation Project, and post-war to contemporary art collections donated by private collectors. This presentation explores the scholarly value of these archives, their academic impact through preservation and public accessibility, and the potential for inter-institutional collaboration. It aims to emphasise the enduring importance of conserving and utilising art archives while reaffirming the vital role of international collaboration in advancing art history.

About the Speaker

Mr. KIKKAWA Hideki is Head, Modern / Contemporary Art Section of Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN). Since 2002, he has worked as a librarian in major art libraries in Tokyo (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, National Art Center, Tokyo, and TOBUNKEN), and has been involved in their library management, as well as in the research, acquisition, and publication of archives related to modern and contemporary art. He is also currently conducting a JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) “Research on archive and its methodology on Japanese post-war art” (2024-2027).