Revitalization of a community site-specific art and art festivals : a case of art site Naoshima

2012

This thesis investigates public art and art festivals in the West, and a large scale art project in Japan, Benesse Art Site Naoshima, which is yet to be defined its place in the academic world. Through the case study of Benesse Art Site Naoshima, public art, site-specific art, art festivals, and a role of art museums are discussed. There are two parts to the thesis: (1) a brief survey of public art and site-specific art (of which has roots in Land art) and, (2) the case study of Art Site Naoshima which advocates the revitalization of rural communities through arts. The central aim of this thesis is to examine a wide range of art practices which is inspired not only by the topography of a ch…