http://www.japinc.org

Agnès GIARD
Email : [email protected]
Born 1st september 1969 in France.
http://www.japinc.org
Author of books dedicated to the japanese culture, Agnès Giard studies the aesthetic and
mythological logic which underlies the surprising appearances of Japanese modernity. She
stayed 15 times in Japan. Agnès Giard now makes anthropology Phd studies and writes a
thesis about anthropomorphic objects made in order to simulate a spouse or a girlfriend.
Her thesis relates to these “artificial life” systems that the Japanese are currently improving,
establishing themselves as the world leaders in this pioneer research field. Most of
the androids produced in Japan are designed to create a humanlike presence. The study of
these realistic dolls will lead me to understand how Japanese succeed in creating life and
consciousness out of inanimate objects.
PRIZES
Selected by the French Foreign Affair Ministry, Agnes Giard became resident at Villa
er
Kujoyama (Kyôto), from 1 july to 31 déc. 2010, in order to write a book about love stories in
Japan.
Selected by Tokyo Wonder Site, she stayed as artist in residence at TWS Aoyama center
(Tôkyô) in august and september 2012.
CURSUS
2011-13
Japanese studies at Geneva University / Anthropology doctorate at Nanterre
University (Paris).
Thesis : « Desired humanity, feigned humanity. Study of
presence effect in anthropomorphic objects in Japan. ». Thesis director : Laurence Caillet.
1991-93
Journalism Licence at Celsa-Sorbonne University Paris 1 / Master degree in
Modern Litterature (« with the congratulation of the jury ») at Censier University Paris 3.
1990-91
Master of Communication and Audiovisual at Censier University (Paris 3).
1987-90
1987
Litterature studies (Hypokhâgne - Khâgnes), Fénelon High School, Paris.
Bachelor degree - Philosophy and litterature.
PUBLICATIONS
Participation to Dictionary of sexualities, under the direction of Janine Mossuz-Lavau
(director of researches CNRS at CEVIPOF), Laffont (Paris, 2013).
Introduction to Horikazu, Life and art of a tattoo-master from Asakusa, Reuss (Munich,
2012).
LIVRES
Magic and love in Japan, (Paris 2014).
Love stories in Japan. From original myths to contemporary fables, 『
仮題：日本のラブストーリー』Glenat (Paris, 2012).
Objects of Desire in Japan, 『 仮題：日本における欲望の対象』Glenat (Paris, 2009).
Dictionary of love and pleasure in Japan, 『 仮題：日本における愛と快楽の辞典 』Glenat
(Paris, 2008)
Erotic fantasy in Japan, 『エロティック・ジャポン 』Albin Michel (Paris, 2006). Published
by Kawade Shobo shinsha in dec. 2010.
Fetish Mode, Wailea publishing (Tôkyô, 2003).
CONFERENCES - MEETING
Lecture « Wedding bliss for the deceased children. Interview with a maker of afterlifemarriages », at the Departement for Social and Cultural Anthropology or Zurich's University,
Switzerland (4 march 2013).
Koi and miruna taboo, Japan Impact, Lausanne, (16 feb. 2013).
In Japan, love does not exist, Humus library, Lausanne, Switzerland (14 dec. 2012).
OKuni-nushi and the box of love, Month of Japanese Culture, organised by the Japanese
Consulat, Geneva, Switzerland (8 oct. 2012)
Love is exorcism, Bal des ardents library, Lyon, France (27 sept. 2012).
The concept of "Koi", Book Fair of Geneva, Switzerland (28 avril 2012).
Japanese Genesis : love as a principle, Human sciences Institute of Lyon. Organized by
Atelier-Researches on Genre and Practices and Effigies association, Lyon France (22
march 2012).
Love in Japan, Bibliothèque St-Simon, organized by Cultural Action Paris, France (16 march
2012).
Meeting with writer Wataya Risa, Paris International Book Fair, France (16 march 2012).
Cultural structures of homosexuality in Japan, LGBT Book Fair, Brussels, Belgium (5 feb.
2012).
Meeting at the Institute Emilie du Chatelet. Organized by sociologist Michel Bozon, Paris
(10 oct. 2011).
France-Japan : compared fantasies, Bookuoka, Fukuoka, Japon (19 nov. 2010).
France-Japan : strategies of seduction, French-Japanese Institute of Tôkyô, Japan (20 oct.
2010).
Love in Japan, from a french point of view, French-Japanese Institute of Kyôto, Japan (30
sept. 2010).
Objects of désire in Japan, art-galery Liberté, Bruxelles, Belgium (19 dec. 2009).
Images of japanese Eros, organized by Montargis city, France (april 2009).
Taboo in Japan is feeling, Movie festival Black Movie, Geneva, Switzerland (5 feb. 2009).
From Koi to Ren-ai : love in Japan, Book fair Asie en Lumières, Lognes, France (31 jan.
2009).
Fear and fantasy in Japan, organized by Presses Orientalistes de France, Aurillac, France
(7 jan. 2009).
Charm of chiralism, Artistic event L’œil d’Eros, Paris, France (29 sept. 2008).
Myths and fantasies in Japan, Bok fair L’Instant Japon, Toulouse, France (17-18 mai 2008).
Kami, eyes and love in Japan, Manga fair Saiten Dijon, Dijon, France (20 oct. 2007).
Japan : eternity of love, Book fair La Fureur de Lire, Geneva, Switzerland (21 sept. 2007).
EXHIBITION - ATELIER
Atelier «Esthetic of japanese End of the world», Art and Design HEAD School, Geneva
(nov. 2012).
Curator of japanese contemporary art exhibition Fantasia Erotica Japonesa, galery Artz21,
Barcelona, Spain (oct.–déc. 2008).
Atelier «Keys to japanese culture», at Art and Design School of Mulhouse (march 2008).