JASensory Museography
The subtitle of “Sensory Museography” is? “Design of Exhibition Spaces based on Embodied Cognition and a Multifaceted Analysis of the Viewing Experience.”?
The relationship between the body and space in the viewing experience of artistic artworks is being researched in fields such as perception psychology, cognitive science, aesthetics, exhibition studies, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The methods for recording and analyzing the behavioural data of visitor movement patterns and their observation tendencies within exhibition spaces have evolved in the fields of interactive art and museum exhibitions. Additionally, phenomenological aesthetics serves as the theoretical foundation for physicality and the art viewing experience.?
In this project these methodologies will be synthesized to design an exhibition space centered on the theme of “embodied cognition.” By combining measurements of viewers’ gaze (eye-tracking) and positional data with questionnaire surveys, we will incorporate engineering-based data analysis into the artistic interpretation of the artworks. Then, based on the knowledge acquired, we will propose a cyclical design approach through designing the next exhibition space. Through this, we present insights that can be applied to art education and curatorial practice.?
Research Representative(s):
Kan Mika
Research Member(s):
Akabane Kyo
, Tobitani Kensuke
Students who we anticipate to take this course are: creators who want to analyze the viewing process of their artworks, aspiring curators who bear an interest in exhibition design, students aspiring to conduct applied research on human sensing technologies to conduct eye-tracking and location tracking of persons.?
Participants will conduct a review of the existing literature, learn how to use equipment, and plan exhibitions. We are planning to use the OPEN HOUSE (July) and Suitopia Center Art Gallery (November) as venues for these exhibitions. Participants will perform a curation according to the theme, and exhibit the artworks of students, guest artists, and professors.?
For data collection, eye-tracking (glasses-style eye-tracking device), location tracking, and a questionnaire survey will be utilized. The analysis method is as follows: ① Analyze the eye-gaze and positional data as a time-series, and then make clear their relationship with the artworks and space. ② Extract the viewers sensory experiences and cognitive evaluations from the survey. ③ Visualize the relationship between bodily movements and eye-tracking patterns with the viewers evaluation. We will employ these methods.?
Holding the exhibition – Once the analysis is completed, we will provide feedback and incorporate it into the design of the next exhibition space.
Schedule for 2026
- July?
- Arranging the research areas and theories.
- Conduct the first data collection using an existing exhibition (Held in Tokyo from the end of June through July).
- Conduct data collection from the student exhibitions at the OPEN HOUSE.
- Coordinating with guest artists in preparation for the exhibition in November.
- August – October
- Develop a hypothesis based on data analysis, design the exhibition space for the exhibition in November.
- Proceed with exhibition preparations, allocation of roles, handle planning and operations.
- Learn how to compare previous research, and analyze the subject multilaterally.
- November – December
- Hold an exhibition at the Suitopia Center Art Gallery.
- Consolidate the results of the research through data collection and data analysis.
- January – March
- Present the results of the work and research over the past year at the project exhibition during the graduate exhibition.
2026 - Present