Abstract

Mitate is a widely known Japanese tradition. It is a conscious act of showing/seeing a thing from a different viewpoint. The concept was further developed into an art of representation. While it is based on the universal human capability of imagination and association, mitate is a cultural phenomenon. As a part of the Device art project, since 2005, which seeks a new form of media art that goes beyond the art world, the author has analyzed ‘Japanese’ elements in today’s media art. Through the analysis it is understood that mitate adds multiple layers of meanings to artworks in playful manner, and serves to open up interaction between the artwork and its interactors: it is similar to metaphor but its notion is wider and multifaceted. This paper discusses the relationship between playfulness and mitate.

• Machiko Kusahara Waseda University / Art-Sci Center, UCLA, USA

Full text (PDF)  p. 420-425