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Home , Ben Vautier, Intermedia, Tomas Schmit

Situating and in 1960s Japan Julian Ross

Introduction

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Phenomenology of Zeitgeist Jidai seishin -

11 - tioned were the Kansai-based artist collective Gutai, whose contri- - were minimal, and Iimura Takahiko, whose artworks mentioned Phenomenology of Zeitgeist - - Phenomenology of Zeitgeist - the series Throwing Shadows: Japanese Expanded Cinema in the Time of Pop - - - - Japanese Expanded Cinema Revisited

12 13 - - - - - - Phenomenology of Zeitgeist - - - - - - - to demonstrate the texts were neither anomalies nor debates held

14 15 - - - [Commercial ar- (SD and - arts], - - - - - - 1 - - - - , were - 1 Here I acknowledge the work of our colleague Uesaki Sen, ex-archivist at Keio University Art Center, who handled documents related to Sōgetsu Art Center in their archive and was instrumental in setting up the online publication of these ephemera as part of the launch of post (https://post.at.moma.org/), the online platform for C-MAP (Contemporary and Modern Art Perspectives), an internal research initiative by the Museum of Modern Art, to which Ann Adachi-Tasch, Hirasawa Go, and I contributed. 2 This is also a reflection of the Japanese art community in the 1960s and ’70s, where artists par- In his role as archivist and researcher, Uesaki is concerned with the temporality of ephemera, par- ticipated in critical discourse as editors, writers, and participants of panel discussions that were ticularly as it pertains to events, and that promotional materials shouldn’t be considered historical transcribed and published. For example, Iimura Takahiko and Matsumoto Toshio were both on the evidence of what took place at an event as it was printed prior to it taking place. editorial board of Kikan Film [Film quarterly] as well as being regular contributors.

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- Intermedia - Phenomenology of Zeitgeist - Phenomenology of Zeitgeist - - - - - - - - these translations to be an extension and contribution to the cata-

18 19 works at events such as - - - - - 6 - - - - word “intermedia” in its 4 Midori Yoshimoto provides an account of Japanese women artists in New York in her book Into Performance: Japanese Women Artists in New York (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2005). The lack of opportunities in Japan for women artists may also explain the absence of women from Japanese discussions on Intermedia and Expanded Cinema and the fact that there were barely any women artists whose work at the time could be categorized as expanded cinema. 5 The event series was co-organized by Ichiyanagi Toshi, Yamaguchi Katsuhiro and Akiyama Kuniharu and involved performances by Shiomi Mieko, a concert by Ichiyanagi, Akiyama, Takemitsu Tōru, Tone Yasunao and an event by Yamaguchi. The event series also included a film screening, which included a film by as well as and Japanese animator Kuri Yōji.

3 Iimura Takahiko and artist Kanesaka Kenji first traveled to the United States through their acceptance 6 Iimura’s films Ai (Love, 1962–63) and Kuzu (Junk, 1962) include a soundtrack by and Kosugi into the International Seminar at Harvard University. Iimura extended his stay through the Japan Takehisa, respectively. Iimura and Kosugi worked together again later for Iimura’s film New York Day Society Visiting Artist Fellowship. and Night (1989).

20 21 - - - , which - - - 7 - - - - - - Even more inclined toward this direction was 7 In the second part of the series, Jōnouchi Motoharu presented VAN Document (1966), which was described as a “Happening-film” on the flyer and involved the artist interrupting the projection of his film with his body and whipping the wall during the projection. Performances such as these would 8 The works presented by Tone Yasunao and Kosugi Takehisa similarly involved electronic media, speci- later be described as “intermedia” or “expanded cinema.” fically music, indicating the direction in which their endeavours in music were heading.

22 23 Cross - 9 Evenings: Theater and Engineering - - - - - coexistence as zentaisei 9- - - - - - - - 9 Tone discusses Arnulf Rainer in the context of intermedia (Tone 1967, 104 and 1968, 83). Tone recalled a screening of Arnulf Rainer at Minami Gallery, Tokyo, during the exhibition of Arnulf Rainer’s work in 1962 (Saitō et al. 1970, 66).

24 25 the audience bore witness to what Ichikawa would call an “acci- - zentaisei - - bara-bara ze- ntaisei event series - - - Expanded Arts Diagram animator Manabe Hiroshi declared he “distrusts” in what he called - - - mance - - -

26 27 Stage on - - - - event - - - - - - - The critical discussions on the terms “intermedia” and “ex- - intermedia can contribute to international discourse, and that works -

28 29 Bibliography

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