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GARDE is celebrating its 40th anniversary by launching the “Metaverse Award for Regional Revitalization.” This award recognizes initiatives that contribute to the revitalization of local communities.

The award aims to support the growth of local economies and cultures by combining demand from local governments with the creative power of designers to promote regional attractions through metaverse technology. Creative ideas for regional revitalization will be accepted on the dedicated GARDE website starting November 1, 2024.

A New Stage of Local Revitalization

In recent years, local governments have faced numerous challenges, such as population decline, aging demographics, and shrinking local economies. Traditional approaches alone often fall short in addressing these issues, which is why new solutions leveraging digital technology—especially innovative technologies like the metaverse—are gaining traction. The metaverse allows local attractions to be showcased in virtual spaces, reaching a broader audience at a low cost.

Moreover, addressing local issues requires collaboration beyond local governments; it calls for the involvement of creative individuals with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Through this award, we believe local governments can gain new insights into solving challenges while benefiting from expertise in local branding and design perspectives. We aim to provide creators with opportunities to contribute to local regions by applying their creative talents, while also supporting the discovery and development of new talent.

Fusion of Local Revitalization and Metaverse

With the evolution of digital technology, the metaverse—a new virtual space—has attracted worldwide attention. The metaverse is more than a platform for entertainment and interaction; it holds the potential to create significant value for society, the economy, and regional communities. Regional revitalization faces numerous challenges, such as depopulation, stagnant local economies, and the preservation and promotion of traditional culture and natural resources. To address these issues, we must harness the power of digital technology to share local attractions globally and generate new value.

This project aims to leverage the metaverse platform to rediscover the appeal of rural areas in a digital space, creating new connections between suburban and urban areas—and even reaching audiences overseas. At GARDE, we aim to design spaces and experiences within the metaverse that embody the spirit of local regions, offering visitors an interactive and immersive experience. Through these experiences, we hope to inspire increased interest in rural areas and create new opportunities for in-person visits, allowing visitors to virtually engage with local culture, traditional crafts, and natural resources in a near-realistic way.

GARDE will explore the potential of metaverse technology by applying its extensive experience in luxury space design—gained mainly in urban centers—toward the revitalization of rural regions. This approach aims to offer a fresh perspective on metaverse projects, which currently report a 10% success rate, opening new avenues for regional revitalization. Our goal with this award is to drive innovation in regional revitalization by merging digital technology with creative ideas, contributing to solutions for local challenges. We are committed to supporting highly effective projects with potential collaborations with local governments.

For further information and application procedures, please visit the official website:
https://garde-metaverse-award.com/

“Regional Revitalization × Metaverse” Project Overview

●Call for Ideas●
The award invites ideas on a wide range of themes, including:

• Tourism Development
• Sports Promotion
• Sales of Specialty Products
• Promotion of Settlement
• VR Work Experience
• Other innovative ideas for regional revitalization

●Application Overview●
Theme: Proposals on achieving “regional revitalization” using “metaverse technology.”
Application Period: November 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025
Eligibility: Open to individuals or groups, with members high school age or older, residing in Japan as of November 1, 2024. All members of a group must meet these criteria, and joint applications require consent from all group members.
Entry Limit: Each applicant (individual or group) may submit only one entry, either independently or in collaboration with a municipality.
Application Requirements: Applicants must agree to the Rural Metaverse Award Application Guidelines when submitting.
Award Structure:
Grand Prize (1 winner): 3,000,000 yen
Outstanding Performance (1 winner): 1,000,000 yen
Local Government Prize (4 winners): 250,000 yen
Judging will primarily take place privately within GARDE. The award ceremony details will be announced later.

Official Award Website: https://garde-metaverse-award.com/

●Schedule●
Application Period Begins: November 1, 2024
Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Winners Announcement: May 15, 2025
Award Ceremony (tentative): Late May – Early June 2025

♦Comment from Representative♦
“In recent years, the rapid evolution of digital technology has enabled new experiences that blend the real and virtual worlds. The metaverse, among these advancements, holds immense potential to surpass the concept of virtual space and become a platform for social and economic activities. Particularly in regional development, the metaverse draws attention as a tool that transcends geographical boundaries, promotes local attractions domestically and internationally, and creates new value.

At GARDE, our aim is to support new community and business models by crafting spaces within the metaverse that are deeply connected to local communities. Drawing on years of experience in spatial design, we launched this project to explore how local culture, climate, and traditions can be expressed in the metaverse to generate fresh value. This project not only contributes to local community creation but also seeks to identify future creators. Through encounters with innovators capable of generating boundary-breaking ideas and designs, we aspire to unlock new possibilities for showcasing regional appeal and elevating local areas in the digital space.”
— Award Producer, Misawa

From October 18 to November 2, 2024, GARDE Gallery is hosting a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Tomomi Taoka, titled “COODE ’24: FRUiTS JUICE DRINKS (+ OLD SPICES).”

Held at the gallery inside GARDE’s headquarters, which is known for its numerous art and spatial design projects, we spoke with Taoka about her creative process and her connection to fashion culture, a major influence on her work.
We also interviewed the exhibition’s curator, art critic Mare Isakari, who shared his expectations for this show.

The Importance of a “Present” That Embraces the “Future” in Lasting Art

Curator Mare Isakari began by explaining that because paintings endure for generations, it is important for them to continuously “reborn” as times change. He expressed his hope that people would focus on the “contemporary” aesthetics reflected in Taoka’s works, and through this exhibition, he wishes to bring her art to a wider audience.

What is the Origin of the Unique Concept of “Creating Paintings Through Coordination”

When creating her works, Taoka draws inspiration from Harajuku street fashion, where even items with little standalone value can gain significance through coordination. She applies this same concept to her art, combining paintings with three-dimensional objects or repurposing old works, using unconventional methods that break away from the traditional norms of painting.

No matter how far she strays from the conventional, Taoka explains that just as “clothing remains clothing,” her work is “still a painting in the end.” By updating traditional values, she presents her art in a way that doesn’t require specialized knowledge to appreciate, allowing each individual to enjoy it through their own personal sense of beauty.

These works, which possess a unique charm precisely because they break free from conventional boundaries, are best experienced in person. We invite you to visit the gallery during the exhibition period and fully immerse yourself in the art.
For more information on the artist’s profile and the exhibited pieces, please click here.

Tomomi Taoka Solo Exhibition “COODE ’24 : FRUiTS JUICE DRINKS (+ OLD SPICES)”

Dates: October 18 (Fri.) – November 2 (Sat.), 2024 (Closed on Sundays and holidays)
Hours: 11:00 – 18:00
Venue: GARDE Gallery (NBF ALLIANCE Building 4F, 5-2-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Free
URL: https://www.art-adf.jp/

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GARDE Gallery in Omotesando, Tokyo, will host “COODE ’24: FRUiTS JUICE DRINKS (+ OLD SPICES),” a solo exhibition by artist Tomomi Taoka, who explores innovative ways of ‘coordinating’ paintings. The exhibition will run from Friday, October 18 to Saturday, November 2, 2024. We look forward to your visit.

Artworks will be available for purchase during the exhibition.

The “FRUiTS” in the title of this exhibition is inspired by the legendary street photography magazine FRUiTS, which captured the fashion of the youth who gathered in Harajuku. Taoka, influenced by street fashion that embraced vintage clothing as a counter-movement to luxury brand fashion, questions the conventional approach to art exhibitions and painting through her unique perspective.

In the world of fashion, Taoka notes, “It’s not always about new things being better; sometimes value is found in items once considered worthless, or by skillfully combining the new with the old.” In the art world, there is often an expectation that only new works will be showcased at exhibitions, with older pieces rarely being revisited. However, for this exhibition, the artist has reimagined oil paintings she created as a student. Taoka believes that “by carefully coordinating them, past works—whether considered failed, old, or inexpensive—can be transformed into contemporary pieces of art.”

In this exhibition, Taoka incorporates various surrounding materials such as ropes, wooden boxes, and Styrofoam, often used as packing or support materials, treating them like “accessories” to her works. Since even the slightest shift in balance can completely alter the overall impression, Taoka explores the concept of what it means to be picturesque by “coordinating” these elements with her paintings.

Sometimes, having only new or high-quality things can become tiresome. However, just as unexpected combinations can give rise to new aesthetics and trends, Taoka refreshes the mode of painting by “spicing it up” with elements considered old or inexpensive.

Tomomi Taoka

Born
1995, Chiba, Japan

Education
2019 Graduated from Musashino Art University, Faculty of Art and Design, Department of Oil Painting
2021 Graduated from Musashino Art University Graduate School of Art and Design, Department of Art, Oil Painting Course

Solo Exhibition
2020 “Zigusoopazurucoodineito” (Sukiwa, Tokyo)

Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 “ART AWARD TOKYO MARUNOUCHI 2021” (Marunouchi Oazo OO Square, Tokyo)
2021 “HOLBEIN ART FAIR 2021” (+ART GALLERY, Tokyo)
2021 “Born New Art” (+ART GALLERY, Tokyo)
2020 “Holbein Scholarship Results Exhibition” (Sato Museum of Art, Tokyo)
2019 “Available! Art Collector Exhibition” (MEDEL GALLERY SHU, Tokyo)
2019 “DorooinguDorouwingu” Noriko Kamikubo and Tomomi Taoka two-person exhibition (Art Center Ongoing, Tokyo)
2018 “WONDER SEEDS 2018” (Tokyo Art and Space Hongo)
Website.
https://tt0742tt.wixsite.com/taokatomomi

Tomomi Taoka Solo Exhibition “COODE ’24 : FRUiTS JUICE DRINKS (+ OLD SPICES)”

Dates: October 18 (Fri.) – November 2 (Sat.), 2024 (Closed on Sundays and holidays)
Hours: 11:00 – 18:00
Venue: GARDE Gallery (NBF ALLIANCE Building 4F, 5-2-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Admission: Free
URL: https://www.art-adf.jp/

From September 28 to October 12, 2024, GARDE Gallery will host a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Yuqi Shinohara titled “FROZEN SUPERMARKETS.” Given GARDE’s many projects that closely intertwine art and food, we interviewed the artist to gain insight into her thoughts on the works and the origins of her artistic career.

Shinohara creates video and installation works that explore the inner conflict humans face as our lives are sustained by the sacrifice of other living beings, particularly animals used as food. She shared that, from a young age, she has been deeply interested in animals, both as pets and as a source of sustenance, and these experiences have shaped her current body of work.

The title of this solo exhibition, “FROZEN SUPERMARKETS,” symbolizes the “mental freeze” or numbness that people often experience as they navigate a life built on consuming other living beings.

Artworks Born from Familiar Music and Video

The artworks on display in this exhibition are the result of capturing analog and physical creations through photography and video. From an early age, music was something deeply familiar to Shinohara, and the world of video, which she first explored as a hobby and later mastered through self-study, became central to her artistic expression. For Shinohara, these mediums serve as the “languages” of her art, allowing her to convey her recurring theme of “animals.”

Introduction to Selected Artworks

《round and round》
“round and round” is a video artwork, but what makes it unique is its presentation on video cassette tape, offering a fresh perspective. The method was chosen to emphasize the tactile quality and transformation of objects, aligning with the concept of valuing texture and change. This piece beautifully embodies the connection between her music activities and art.

《PRAY FREE》
“PRAY FREE” is a piece that expresses respect for life by recording and preserving what the artist has eaten on paper. Although it is difficult to remember everything one consumes, the food we ingest becomes part of our bodies and sustains us. The Japanese phrase “itadakimasu” often said before meals to express gratitude for food, serves not only as a gesture of respect for the ingredients but also as a reflection of the inner conflict involved in consuming life. This is the interpretation embodied in this artwork.

The Two Faces of Yuqi Shinohara: Vocalist Q.i and Contemporary Artist

Shinohara is also active as the vocalist Q.i of the band Milk Talk. The name Q.i is derived from her English artist name, Yuqi Shinohara, and represents a simpler approach to her relationship with music. However, when working in the visual arts, she uses her real name, aiming to make her identity clearer and convey her artistic vision more directly to those who experience her work.

In this solo exhibition, her first, you can immerse yourself in a unique world of art that only a multi-talented artist like Shinohara can create. We invite you to come and enjoy this exceptional experience.

Yuki Shinohara Solo Exhibition “FROZEN SUPERMARKETS” – Exhibition Overview

• Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 28, 2024 – Saturday, October 12, 2024 (Closed on Sundays and public holidays)
• Time: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Venue: GARDE Gallery (NBF ALLIANCE Building 4F, 5-2-1 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
• Admission: Free

Yuqi Shinohara

Yuqi Shinohara, born in 1991, graduated from Hiroshima City University (Faculty of Art) in 2014 and moved to the United States. She also works as a musician under the name Q.i. Her own independent band “Milk Talk” released a full-length album in November 2023. Her retro electro-funk style, which reflects the sensibility of the times, is popular beyond the boundaries of countries and genres. She has provided music for the online game “Fortnite” and Maison Kitsuné’s fall/winter collection.

Instagram: @q.imusic