UQ academic to raise the profile of Japanese art in Australia

A UQ academic who has been offered an internationally competitive research scholarship says he hopes to use the opportunity to raise the profile of Japanese art in Australia.
School of English, Media and Art History senior lecturer Dr Gary Hickey will begin a year-long position as a Visiting Research Scholar at the Nichibunken, the International Research Centre for Japanese Studies in Kyoto from July next year.

Dr Hickey says he will focus his research on Australia’s relationship to Japan as reflected in the history of Japanese art collecting by Australian art museums.

“This position will provide me with the opportunity for a total immersion in Japanese art in the cultural centre of Japan,” Dr Hickey said. “As well, through access to artists, researchers and art museums, I will be able to expand upon my existing academic and cultural contacts.”

In collaborating projects with the Centre’s permanent faculty, Dr Hickey says he also hopes to concentrate on his specialised area of knowledge, ukiyo-e the genre art of 17th-early 19th century Japan.

As an inter-university research institute of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Nichibunken seeks to promote comprehensive, international and interdisciplinary research on Japanese culture.

“Upon my return I hope to raise awareness of Australian scholarship on an international stage as well as provide a blueprint for the future direction of Japanese art in this country,” Dr Hickey said.

Dr Hickey already sits on the directorial board of the prominent Japanese arts organisation, the Tokyo-based International Ukiyo-e Society and while in Japan he says is also planning to participate in its research activities.

Dr Hickey received his UQ PhD in Art History in 2007 from the School of English, Media Studies and Art History and is the Convenor of the Museum Studies program at the School.
For more information contact Dr Gary Hickey at g.hickey@uq.edu.au
Media: Allison Rock at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619 or Allison.rock@uqconnect.edu.au)