2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Collective De/Fence: Demilitarization and Climate Change Activism through Art in the Contemporary Indo-Pacific
| Project/Area Number |
23K01039
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| Research Institution | Waseda University |
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Principal Investigator |
DVORAK G・E 早稲田大学, 国際学術院, 教授 (20613079)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2023-04-01 – 2026-03-31
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| Keywords | postcolonial / contemporary art / Indigenous resistance / climate change / nuclear legacy / Pacific Islands / regional dynamics / gender |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY 2023, I achieved several key milestones aligned with my research objectives. Between April and August, I conducted preliminary fieldwork in Hokkaido, exploring Ainu art and history in museums in Obihiro and Kushiro and interviewing elders. I also participated in a significant art and science expedition to Kwajalein, Wotho, Bikini, Rongelap, and Majuro in the Marshall Islands, focusing on nuclear test sites and Indigenous narrative of resilience and resistance to climate change, alongside international collaborators. From August to September, my research extended to northeastern Japan and South Korea, examining Indigenous traces and festival cultures, and exploring postcolonial resistance in art. In the latter half of the year, I presented my research in Kyoto and curated an exhibition there, led a workshop, presented at the Pacific History Association conference in Australia, examined Indigenous art in Tasmania, and worked on a paper for the Sydney Biennale. My activities culminated in January to March with research presentations/exhibits at the Sapporo International Art Festival and at the Sydney Biennale, where I also conducted research. I also surveyed and contributed to Nuclear Victims Remembrance Week in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, presenting my research and studying contemporary trends. These efforts significantly contributed to my original research goals, shedding light on regional cultural dynamics and their global implications.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The progress of this research project in FY 2023 has been significant despite unforeseen changes. Due to my sabbatical being granted for FY 2024, I postponed plans for New Zealand and Europe, focusing instead on alternative sites. The weak yen restricted extensive travel, but I adapted by conducting fieldwork in Korea, Hong Kong, and northeastern Japan, enriching the project's scope with diverse cultural insights.These regions proved pivotal in exploring postcolonial art and Indigenous representations. Additional unexpected opportunities such as curating exhibitions in Kyoto and Sapporo and contributing to a publication for the Sydney Biennale enhanced the project's dissemination and impact. Particularly, the research at Bikini Atoll was transformative, offering profound insights into the nuclear legacy and its impacts on local communities. This segment established a strong foundation for future research and created interdisciplinary links between art, science, and activism.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
During FY 2024, I intend to use my sabbatical to conduct comprehensive research in both Europe and Oceania, focusing on ethnographic collections and Indigenous art exhibits in Europe, as well as Pacific Islander art in Hawai'i, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and New Zealand. This period will allow me to delve deeply into diverse cultural expressions and historical narratives, enriching the research project's breadth and depth. I have already scheduled participation in various symposia and workshops during this time, alongside commitments to writing engagements related to this Kakenhi project. These activities are expected to align with and fulfill the research objectives outlined in the original plan, ensuring continuity and consistency in research output. However, the project faces economic challenges due to the weak yen, which has significantly limited our budget for international travel and other expenditures. This economic constraint will necessitate ongoing compromises and adjustments to the research scope. To address these financial limitations, I plan to prioritize key locations and activities that offer the most substantial potential for impactful research outcomes.
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| Causes of Carryover |
As noted in this report, some elements of the FY2023 plan, such as research in Europe and Oceania, have been postponed to FY2024, so I intend to use that original budget later than originally planned.
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| Remarks |
These links provide further context for the research conducted in the Marshall Islands during FY2023 and preliminary outcomes.
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