What is “experimental”?
Vol. 3 The Study of Uselessness

Guests☞ Tamotsu Yoshimori (Professor, Graduate School of Medicine / Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University),
Hiroshi Yoshioka (Aesthetician / Professor of Aesthetics and Theory of Arts, Kyoto University)
Host☞ Kyoto Experiment Co-director
This is the third installment of our talk series that addresses the question “What is experimental?” from a variety of angles. In a world that tends to measure the value of human beings in terms of how productive and “useful” they are, it might be worthwhile to contemplate the value of uselessness. Culture, research, and artistic practices are often experimental in nature, and much of it does not produce concrete results right away; but these are fields that sometimes give rise to great achievements in time. At this event, the importance of uselessness will be discussed in depth by two guest speakers at the forefront of their respective (and very different) areas of research: Hiroshi Yoshioka, program-specific professor of aesthetics and theory of arts at Kyoto University’s Kokoro Research Center; and Tamotsu Yoshimori, a professor at Osaka University’s Graduate School of Medicine/Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences.
2.20 (Sat) 18:30-20:30
*Language: Japanese only
Lobby, 3F Park Plaza, ROHM Theatre Kyoto
13 Okazakisaishoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8342
-10 minutes’ walk from Higashiyama Station (Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line).
Free admission
Reservations will be open at a later date.