Layers of (in)visible resilience: art, women, and homelessness in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Building on a critical gendered approach at the intersection of arts, women, and homelessness, this article calls attention to the structured layers of (in)visibilities of female agency, existence, and resilience. The arts have a special place and importance in civil society formation in relation to homelessness in Japanese cities today, so the aim is to elucidate the significant but understudied role of women in enhancing varied forms of resilience in the urban environment. Arts, activism, and, in particular, art activism on socio-political issues in Asian cities are typically perceived as methods of resistance against local and national governments, whereas their crucial contribution to urban resilience often remains unrecognized. By investigating the emergent forms of interdisciplinary arts in Tokyo and Osaka that are aimed at sustainability in less-privileged living conditions, this article contributes to the growing field of studies acknowledging how these circumstances are brought about not only by economic ruptures but also by gendered socio-structural and cultural factors. By recognizing the intricate parameters of the varied artistic practices, a more nuanced understanding of the gendered urban resilience in maintaining communities, neighborhoods, and cities can be gained.