Dogu: Spirits of Clay.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: SISJAC
Abstract
Context: This project will research prehistoric Eurasian figurines in the British Museum (BM) and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (SCVA) leading to two temporary exhibitions and associated publications. The project draws on a research network of Japanese and European specialists who have been meeting over the past two years to develop a new agenda for Eurasian figurine studies. Bringing together university-based scholars with Museum specialists from the UK and elsewhere, a new understanding of figurines will be fostered, based on detailed formal and contextual study in a broad comparative framework. This new understanding will be disseminated to the wider academic community and the general public through a series of outputs, including the exhibitions, associated publications and symposia, public programming and broad media coverage.
Prehistoric ceramic figurines represent an important expression of early human creativity. They reveal much about how their makers viewed themselves as human beings and their relationship with the worlds they inhabited, their beliefs in the supernatural, and the importance of clothes, coiffure and body ornamentation in early societies. In addition, they are often used in contemporary attempts to establish or confirm modern cultural identity through association with distinctive objects from the past. This will be the first exhibition dedicated to prehistoric figurines in UK.
Aims and objectives: This project will bring some examples from the two most important Eurasian figurine traditions (Jomon Japan, 16,000-2500 years ago) and the Neolithic Balkans (8500-4500 years ago) to the UK for the first time, complementing existing collections at the BM and SCVA. Two exhibitions are planned. The first will be an exhibition of important Jomon figurines. This will be the first such exhibition dedicated to these objects, and has already generated such interest that it is expected that the exhibition will also be shown at the Tokyo National Museum.
The second exhibition will provide an international context for these prehistoric Jomon objects, setting Jomon figurines beside important examples of other Eurasian Neolithic ceramic figurines (from the Russian Far East, China and Central Europe), with particular emphasis on the very significant but little known collections from the central Balkans (in particular Albania, Macedonia and Kosova).
The exhibitions will be preceded by two research visits will take place, to Japan and the Balkans, during which leading UK, Japanese and Balkan specialists will visit each other's sites, museums and collections, and local seminars will be held, establishing a new standard for figurine studies worldwide. Materials from these study visits will be incorporated into the exhibitions.
The SCVA exhibition will incorporate an artist's residency to develop new expressions of the relationship between contemporary audiences and figurines. At the BM, the Asahi Room close to the entrance of the Museum will be made available for a commissioned piece by a major contemporary artist, expressing his/her response to the prehistoric Jomon figurines.
Applications and benefits: The project will engage both scholars and the general public in broader questions about the past, and the role of the past in the present. The results of the research project will be disseminated through associated public programming developed and delivered in association with the Education Department of the BM and the Education and Research Section of the SCVA, both of which have extensive experience of such programmes.
The project will establish a new research context for existing collections of figurines in the UK. It will also consolidate an existing research network and reinforce collaboration between the BM, SCVA and Sainsbury Institute, paving the way for further joint working.
Prehistoric ceramic figurines represent an important expression of early human creativity. They reveal much about how their makers viewed themselves as human beings and their relationship with the worlds they inhabited, their beliefs in the supernatural, and the importance of clothes, coiffure and body ornamentation in early societies. In addition, they are often used in contemporary attempts to establish or confirm modern cultural identity through association with distinctive objects from the past. This will be the first exhibition dedicated to prehistoric figurines in UK.
Aims and objectives: This project will bring some examples from the two most important Eurasian figurine traditions (Jomon Japan, 16,000-2500 years ago) and the Neolithic Balkans (8500-4500 years ago) to the UK for the first time, complementing existing collections at the BM and SCVA. Two exhibitions are planned. The first will be an exhibition of important Jomon figurines. This will be the first such exhibition dedicated to these objects, and has already generated such interest that it is expected that the exhibition will also be shown at the Tokyo National Museum.
The second exhibition will provide an international context for these prehistoric Jomon objects, setting Jomon figurines beside important examples of other Eurasian Neolithic ceramic figurines (from the Russian Far East, China and Central Europe), with particular emphasis on the very significant but little known collections from the central Balkans (in particular Albania, Macedonia and Kosova).
The exhibitions will be preceded by two research visits will take place, to Japan and the Balkans, during which leading UK, Japanese and Balkan specialists will visit each other's sites, museums and collections, and local seminars will be held, establishing a new standard for figurine studies worldwide. Materials from these study visits will be incorporated into the exhibitions.
The SCVA exhibition will incorporate an artist's residency to develop new expressions of the relationship between contemporary audiences and figurines. At the BM, the Asahi Room close to the entrance of the Museum will be made available for a commissioned piece by a major contemporary artist, expressing his/her response to the prehistoric Jomon figurines.
Applications and benefits: The project will engage both scholars and the general public in broader questions about the past, and the role of the past in the present. The results of the research project will be disseminated through associated public programming developed and delivered in association with the Education Department of the BM and the Education and Research Section of the SCVA, both of which have extensive experience of such programmes.
The project will establish a new research context for existing collections of figurines in the UK. It will also consolidate an existing research network and reinforce collaboration between the BM, SCVA and Sainsbury Institute, paving the way for further joint working.
Publications
Kaner, S.
(2009)
The Power of Dogu: ceramic figures from ancient Japan
Kaner, S
(2010)
unearthed gallery guide and catalogue
Bailey, D
(2010)
Unearthed
Kaner, S.
(2010)
Dogu no chikara: saihakkutsu [Re-excavating the power of dogu]
in Bunka Shigengaku
Title | "Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure". |
Description | An exhibition at the British Museum, arranged to coincide with the Power of Dogu exhibition. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | Many people became interested in manga and archaeology. The subsequent book (which is not related to the AHRC) became a bestseller among British Museum titles. |
Title | "Rebirth". |
Description | An exhibition held at the art gallery 18/21 in Norwich in conjunction with the 'unearthed' exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Impact | The exhibition was for contemporary artists inspired by Jomon archaeology, and has gone on to inspire new generations of artistic creativity. |
Title | "The Late Shift" an evening of Film Animation. |
Description | An evening of music and performance relating to the 'unearthed' exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Impact | Enhanced interest in the associated exhibition |
Title | "The Power of Dogu". |
Description | An exhibition of prehistoric ceramic figures from the Jomon period of Japan, at the British Museum. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | This exhibition kicked off a boom in interest in these objects among international audiences and in Japan. Visited by over 90,000 people over 6 weeks. |
Title | "Unearthed" A Fusion, Norwich: A multimedia presentation, including the Vodcast, The Sarah Bears animation & adapted version of Gallery Guide. |
Description | A one-week installation at the Fusion facility at the Norwich Millennium Library, showcasing the 'unearthed' exhibition and associated activities at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Impact | The visitor numbers at the associated exhibition increased. Sarah Beare's video animation has been a great success in japan, and is now on show at the Korekawa Jomon Museum in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, where is is next to a National Treasure dogu. |
Title | "Unearthed". |
Description | An exhibition of prehistoric figurines from Japan and southeastern Europe, accompanied by some specially commissioned contemporary art, at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia, Norwich |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Impact | The exhibition was visited by around 7000 people, most of whom had never been exposed to this form of prehistoric art previously. |
Title | Unearthed-exhibit opened by Minister Plenipotentiary Keiichi Hayashi (Japan Embassy), & Prof E Acton (Vice-Chancellor of University of East Anglia & Chair of Mngmt Board, Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts & Cultures. 22 June 2010. |
Description | Public opening of the exhibition with speeches. |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Impact | Many members of the public became interested in the exhibition. |
Description | Context: This project researched prehistoric Eurasian figurines in the British Museum (BM) and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (SCVA) leading to two temporary exhibitions and associated publications. The project drew on a research network of Japanese and European specialists who have been meeting since 2006 to develop a new agenda for Eurasian figurine studies. Bringing together university-based scholars with museum specialists from the UK and elsewhere, new understandings of figurines was fostered, based on detailed formal and contextual study in a broad comparative framework. These new understandings have been disseminated to the wider academic community and the general public through a series of outputs, including the exhibitions, associated publications and symposia, public programming and broad media coverage. Prehistoric clay figurines represent an important expression of early human creativity. They reveal much about how their makers viewed themselves as human beings and their relationship with the worlds they inhabited, their beliefs in the supernatural, and the importance of clothes, coiffure and body ornamentation in early societies. In addition, they are often used in contemporary attempts to establish or confirm modern cultural identity through association with distinctive objects from the past. These exhibitions were the first dedicated to prehistoric figurines in UK. Aims and objectives: This project brought examples from the two most important Eurasian figurine traditions (Jomon Japan, 16,000-2500 years ago) and the Neolithic Balkans (8500-4500 years ago) to the UK for the first time, complementing existing collections at the BM and SCVA. Two exhibitions were held. The first was an exhibition of important Jomon figurines. This was the first such exhibition dedicated to these objects in several decades, and was exhibited at the Tokyo National Museum upon the return of the figurines (termed in Japanese: dogu) to Japan. The second exhibition provided an international and contemporary context for these prehistoric Jomon objects, setting Jomon figurines beside important examples of European Neolithic clay figurines, with particular emphasis on the very significant but little known collections from the central Balkans (in particular Albania, Macedonia and Romania). The exhibitions were preceded by research visits to Japan and the Balkans, during which leading UK, Japanese and Balkan specialists visited each other's sites, museums and collections, with local seminars being held, which helped establish a new standard for figurine studies worldwide. Materials from these study visits were incorporated into the exhibitions. The SCVA exhibition incorporated an artist in residency to develop new expressions of the relationship between contemporary audiences and figurines. This residency, separately funded by the Henry Moore Foundation, was undertaken by Sue Maufe, a Norwich-based potter who produced over 7000 individual clay figurines which were distributed along with the entry tickets. At the BM, the Asahi Room close to the entrance of the Museum was made available for a commissioned piece by a major contemporary artist, Hoshino Yukinobu, expressing his response to the prehistoric Jomon figurines. Applications and benefits: The project engaged both scholars and the general public in broader questions about the past, and the role of the past in the present. The results of the research project were disseminated through associated public programming developed and delivered in association with the Education Department of the BM and the Education and Research Section of the SCVA. The project established a new research context for existing collections of figurines in the UK. It also consolidated existing research networks and reinforced collaboration between the BM, SCVA and the Sainsbury Institute, paving the way for further joint working. |
Description | The exhibitions were the stimulus for a series of new exhibitions on related themes in Japan, and also gave rise to the world's first twinning of archaeological sites, in UK and Japan. The project was also the focus of an Impact Case Study for REF 2014. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Creative Economy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
Description | British Academy Conference Grant |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The British Academy |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2010 |
End | 10/2010 |
Description | Duke of Omnium Fund |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Duke of Omnium Fund |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 12/2010 |
Description | Handa Jomon Archaeology Fellowship |
Amount | £75,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | International Jomon Culture Conference |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Japan |
Start | 09/2009 |
End | 04/2011 |
Description | Henry Moore Foundation |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Henry Moore Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 12/2010 |
Description | Japan Foundation Conference Grant |
Amount | £7,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Japan Foundation Endowment Committee |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Japan |
Start | 04/2009 |
End | 03/2010 |
Description | Japan Foundation Exhibition Support Grant |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Japan Foundation Endowment Committee |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Japan |
Start | 04/2010 |
End | 03/2011 |
Description | ERASMUS internship in Norwich by Ms Magdalena Hamera, Nicholas Copernicus University, Torun, Poland. Assisting with the 'Unearthed' Exhibition. 15 June - 15 August 2010. |
Organisation | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun |
Country | Poland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Information taken from Final Report |
Description | Dogu making workshop (British Museum) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Everyone enjoyed making figurines and many people went on to see the associated exhibition Enhanced interest in dogu figurines |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | Dogu making workshops (SCVA) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Everyone enjoyed making the figurines - and the best ones were included in the exhibition Enhanced interest in the associated exhibition and the collections at SCVA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Dogu workshops for teachers at Embassy of Japan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Stimulated interest in figurines and Japanese archaeology Higher than expected interest among teachers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | Public workshop on Jomon World Heritage (Society of Antiquaries) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards Many people visited the exhibitions that this project delivered. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | Unearthed Study Day (NUA) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Considerable discussion and enhanced visits to exhibition Many people visited the associated exhibition |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |