Abstract

Nagoya University Project Gallery [clas] is an experimental space for diverse people. In this study, we discuss the significance of university galleries thorough an exhibition and the possibility of student staff as mediators between knowledge and the public. Gallery [clas] was founded in 2007 for the purpose of advancing multidisciplinary thinking through knowledge combined with visual imagery. We also consider the significance of the university gallery as a civic space based on the activities at Gallery [clas]. So far, Gallery [clas] has presented various exhibitions, focusing on visual imagery. However, it hasn’t been able to hold as many exhibitions as it would like in order to introduce specialized academic research fields at Nagoya University. We believe our goal is to provide academic knowledge to the general public and consider how to develop a university gallery into a “civic space” where discussions between student staff members and visitors can occur. To this end, we held an experimental exhibition entitled “[clas] experiments” in June 2015, introducing four professors’ research fields and four artists’ works. In this exhibition, we had two subgoals: 1) to investigate the differences in how visitors are affected by exhibits of scientific research introducing professors’ research fields and art exhibits and 2) to consider the future role of student staff. Student staff worked in the gallery as mediators between academic knowledge and the public, and we devised a questionnaire for visitors to explore the significance of university galleries and student staff.