In recent years, a variety of artworks have been produced in the field on the basis of research conducted by artists themselves, and the term “field work” has become common currency outside the confines of academia, where it originated. The Tokyo Art Research Lab program has brought together mamoru and Motoyuki Shitamichi – artists who produce and present artworks based on field work – with designer Masataka Maruyama and research associates selected via a public recruitment process to form the “Traveling Research Laboratory”. For around two months, from the latter half of June to early August, they will visit not only creators and researchers, but also people who use unique field work techniques to produce their output, and will conduct interviews to examine the potential of field work and presentation. In addition, regarding the research process itself as a single journey, they will engage in intensive discussion of the theme within the group over this period and will produce output for widespread dissemination.

On Sunday, August 10, they will hold a seminar to report on their activities during the “Traveling Research Laboratory” program. Looking back at the plan for the journey and retracing the Laboratory’s steps to the places they visited, they will share with you the discussions, ideas, and words concerning “field work and presentation” that emerged from the interviews at each location.