• Pan Mengfei Research Associate, Graduate School of International Management, Aoyama Gakuin

This presentation examines the relationship between art networks and geographic place from the perspective of art sociology. Through employing concepts such as “art network”, “cultural capital”, “social capital”, and “community of practice”, it investigates mainly the situation in modern Tokyo from the Meiji Period and analyzes the phenomenon of artist clusters, their motivations, actual benefits, and the impact on the places from the clusters. Drawing research from art history and urban studies, this presentation not only reveals the significance of place for the art networks but also argues for an expansion of research scope to envision the place as an agency to better understand the art collectivity in contemporary Japan.