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Paper short abstract:

Aboriginal arts globally well known is the main topic of this paper. I will focus on the two exhibitions held in Japan; in 1960s and in 2016. By comparing the two and also its acceptance, I will argue how the difference was performed by the agencies in the different 'states'.

Paper long abstract:

The 'Arts' of Australian Aboriginal people is produced by many artists and accepted widely both in Australia and in abroad. Aboriginal arts have become a big industry and are very popular, one of the most famous aspects of Australia.

In Japan, there have been a several exhibitions of Aboriginal arts held since 1960s, and many of them are considerably well accepted, including very successful exhibition of Emily Kama Kungwarreye in 2008. In this paper, I will focus on two particular exhibitions held in Japan, one in 1960s and the other in 2016. The former was on Bark paintings and the latter was on Acrylic Paintings on Canvas. By comparing these two exhibitions, I will focus on the changes of Japanese acceptance from 'primitive art' to 'high art'. In the former exhibition, they were introduced as very important primitive art which is nearly dying out. But in the latter, they were introduced as 'art'. I will argue how Aboriginal arts have changed its acceptance through 'transit' of the time and how it was performed by what kind of social background and agencies. Also, I would like to focus on the difference of the acceptance which happened by the geographical 'transit' from Australia to Japan first. I will analyze the social and historical background of the difference and changes, and try to argue about the social formation of the agencies that have a crucial part in performing those changes.