In May, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Japanese audiovisual anthropologist and museum curator Itsushi Kawase  as a guest teacher in Münster. He offered a public lecture on the topic „Exploring Audiovisual and Performative Strategies in Museum Exhibitions: The Case of ‚The World of Poet-Singers‘ ” at the University of Münster Professional School. Moreover, Prof. Kawase participated in module 6 of our MA-program and took time to interact, discuss and share his knowledge with our students.

Prof. Kawase’s work seamlessly integrates academic research and artistic practice. As a filmmaker, writer, and performer with extensive field experience in Ethiopia and Japan, he pursues a form of engaged anthropology that questions disciplinary boundaries and explores new modes of expression. Since 2019, he has also served as editor-in-chief of TRAJECTORIA, a platform dedicated to innovative formats in ethnographic practice.

In a compelling lecture, he offered deep insights into the conception and realization of The World of Poet-Singers, a special exhibition he curated to mark the 50th anniversary of his home institution. The exhibition brought together musical storytelling traditions from eight countries across Asia and Africa – including Ethiopia, Mali, Nepal, and Japan – and combined ethnographic film, photography, spatial sound design, and live performance into a rich, multisensory experience. Prof. Kawase impressively demonstrated how exhibitions can function as participatory, affective, and narrative environments – spaces in which knowledge is not merely conveyed but collectively experienced and co-created. His lecture was also part of the colloquium series of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Münster.

We sincerely thank Prof. Kawase for his visit and for the inspiring impulses he provided!