Kanosei Art Project Exhibition in Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in 2021 showcases works of art from Japan and overseas

Kanosei Art Project Exhibition in Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in 2021 is an online exhibition in a virtual space.

Tokyo – Toppan, a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions, the Yoi-Otera Research Institute, the Borderless Art Organization, and NPO Support Center DREAM are collaborating with Stichting hetWerkvan (hetWerkvan), an organization supporting artists with intellectual disabilities in the Netherlands, to hold a virtual reality (VR) online exhibition set in the Ryuhozan Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in temple located in Kyoto, Japan. The “Kanosei Art Project Exhibition in Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in 2021” is free of charge and will run from December 20, 2021, to February 20, 2022, presenting the work of artists who have physical, intellectual, or psychological disabilities.

The Japanese word “kanosei” means “potential” or “possibilities.” Kanosei Art exhibitions showcasing the work of artists with disabilities have been held in Japan for several years. Through a collaboration with Netherlands-based hetWerkvan, this is the first time that the exhibition will feature the works of artists from outside of Japan. Pieces from the Borderless Art Organization and Support Center DREAM are also featured in a collection of 45 works created by 37 artists with disabilities, based on the theme of “infinite possibilities and potential.” The exhibition is being held in a virtual space that faithfully reproduces the Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in temple and includes 15 works by seven artists from hetWerkvan.

The works of art are accompanied by video messages in multiple languages given by computer avatars generated from photographs of the artists. Online visitors can also watch videos in which avatars of Tsuguhiro Maeda, the chief priest of Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in, Toyotoshi Kumamoto, the director of the Borderless Art Organization, Kazuyo Tsuchie, the director of Support Center DREAM, and Femke Riel, the founder of hetWerkvan, provide messages in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Dutch.

Goods featuring designs based on the pieces exhibited are available from an online museum shop,1 and virtual backgrounds, smartphone wallpapers and other digital content, desktop calendars, and Primagraphy2 prints can be purchased from the Borderless Art Organization website.3

The aim of the exhibition is to address a social issue and drive economic activity by enhancing support for the independence of artists with disabilities and expanding the public role of Buddhist temples.

Overview of Kanosei Art Project Exhibition in Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in 2021

Website: https://kanoseiartproject-vr-2021.com/en/ 
Dates: December 20, 2021 through February 20, 2022
Free of charge
The exhibition is being held exclusively online with no physical exhibition at Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in.

Leaflets for the Kanosei Art Project Exhibition in Daitoku-ji Zuiho-in 2021

About the Kanosei Art Project

Toppan has been advancing the Kanosei Art Project since 2018 as a new initiative fusing support for the independence of people with disabilities, business activities, and human resource development. The project aims to establish a business model for addressing a social issue (the independence of people with disabilities) and supporting economic activity by leveraging Toppan’s high-definition technologies to give added value to the work of artists with disabilities. The creation of the business model has also been incorporated into Toppan’s human resource training programs and is leveraged to develop next-generation leaders. The Kanosei Art Project is registered as a TEAM EXPO 2025 co-creation challenge4 for Expo 2025, which will be held in Osaka, Japan.

1. Goods designed based on the artwork on display can be purchased from Kana Pro Market, which Toppan operates as part of the #Kanaeru Project for making the dreams of creators and fans come true.
https://kanapromarket.meetmygoods.com/user/shops/kanousei_art (in Japanese)

2. Primagraphy combines the fine-art printing technique of giclée, which originated in the U.S., with color adjustment techniques developed by Toppan in prepress and printing. The French verb “gicler” means to spray or spout. Giclée has become established as a new technique for fine-art printing alongside silkscreen and lithography.

3. Online shop on the Borderless Art Organization’s website: https://www.borderlessart.or.jp/direct (in Japanese)

4. TEAM EXPO 2025 co-creation challenge: https://team.expo2025.or.jp/ja/challenge/98 (in Japanese)