Graduate School
Research Department of Fine Art and Craft - Master’s Course
There is realness within beauty, wisdom within technique, and people with knowledge.
The graduate school master’s course also serves as the first term of the doctor’s course. Students undertake deep and broad scholarship from a wide perspective. The course aims to cultivate creative and expressive skills, research ability in artistic fields, or the advanced skills required to work in an art-related occupation. With undergraduate research and works as a foundation, students conduct advanced research/work creation in their specialized fields, under their own research themes. With a view to form the knowledge and abilities required for the doctor’s course, the curriculum includes consideration of linguistics and thesis preparation. Since the establishment of the master’s course in 1979, many international students and students from other universities have also enrolled, creating a free and open work creation and research environment.
Painting
There are 3 fields of study in this major: Japanese painting and oil painting and moving image. There is a focus on practical exercises such as Japanese painting, oil painting, painting techniques and painting completion work. There is also a theoretical aspect, including advanced painting, art history (Japan, Asia and the West) and aesthetics + art theory. With a foundation in traditional painting expression, this major also focuses on modern art, responding to the development of diversifying art through exploration of the creative world via free expression.
Sculpture
In the sculpture course, works including clay sculpture, word carving, stone carving and metal carving are created. In the Environmental sculpture course, work topics include installation, conceptual creation and cross-genre modeling. In the theory course, students consider sculpture within urban, public and natural spaces, in addition to the development of diversifying modern art. While pursuing traditional methods of expression, students broaden their creative worlds through free thinking, producing works with individuality.
Aesthetics & Art History
Students undertake specialized study via practical work and special lectures, across five fields including aesthetics, Japanese art history, Asian art history, Western art history and craft history. In addition, courses including advanced art theory (for the nurturing of comprehensive interdisciplinary interest) and artistic technique research (for the study of raw materials and techniques making use of the College’s special characteristics) have also been created. Classwork utilizing Kanazawa’s various art galleries and museums, field surveys within and outside Japan, and exhibition planning guidance are also carried out. This major aims to train researchers specializing in art, through the combination of theory and practice. Students who completed this major work in a range of artistic fields, such as curators. Many students also choose to study abroad following the doctoral course.
Craft
There are four courses in this major: ceramics, Urushi/woodwork, metalwork and textiles. Metalwork and textiles are further broken down into two different fields, bringing the number of specialized fields to six. The courses are designed allowing for advanced research that is technical and formative, within a rich environment. An emphasis is put on practical skills and exercises, while there are also 10 theory subjects including advanced crafts and local culture theory, for enhancing students’ theoretical modeling consideration. Students are expected to constantly pursue tradition and modernity, and take on new challenges regarding raw materials.
Design
There are three courses in this major, including visual design, industrial design and interior & architectural design. The courses include practical exercises based on various themes within modern society and design. Also, based on the recognition that the foundation and development of modeling and methodology are indispensable for deepening research, the major also includes theory subjects. This major opens the door to the doctor’s course. Following completion, students find work as researchers, educators, directors and designers.
Research Department of Fine Art and Craft - Doctor’s Course
Integrated practical & theoretical research
In the doctor’s course we carry out research work and doctoral thesis guidance aimed at nurturing artists and researchers with high-level abilities necessary for independent production and research. This is achieved through research instruction regarding high-level artistic creation and the techniques and theory of expression. In addition to conducting public research presentations twice a year, comprehensive research is assured through the interdisciplinary practical/theoretical subjects “exercises in local art” and “complete modeling research”, through a relatively free curriculum based within and outside the College. Doctor’s course students become artists and researchers both within and outside Japan, and actively seek research opportunities abroad. There is also a system for students taking special subjects, which is also open to working adults and international students.
Research Students
We have a research student system for people who wish to conduct research in a specified field. In order to apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Academic credit points are not conferred to research students.