INDEX
Promoting Regional Culture and Supporting Artists: Arts Council Saitama’s Initiatives for Cultural Growth and Artist Development
Now that we understand the connection between this land and bonsai, the question arises: why combine bonsai with digital art?
The exhibition I mentioned earlier is part of a project titled Imaginary Saitama, spearheaded by Arts Council Saitama.
Imaginary Saitama is a digital art initiative that highlights four of Saitama City’s unique cultural treasures: “bonsai,” “manga,” “dolls,” and “railroads.” In collaboration with the Curation Education and Research Center at Tokyo University of the Arts, the project invited public submissions in fiscal year 2023. The most captivating ideas were selected and brought to life with support from Arts Council Saitama. For the city, it’s a fresh way to showcase its rich heritage, while for artists, it’s a rare opportunity to create under the guidance and support of the local government. This venture, which seeks to explore and express the essence of these four cultural pillars, offers exciting potential for both the city and the artists involved.
What makes this project so fascinating is its approach of reinterpreting four culturally significant traditions through the lens of “something meets Digital.” While bonsai is relatively easy to visualize in a digital context, the enthusiasts of these cultural resources are often from older generations. By merging them with digital art, Arts Council Saitama aims to engage younger audiences and highlight the ongoing evolution of these cultural treasures.
Leonid Zvorinsky’s Sleeping Memory is the first groundbreaking piece in the Imaginary Saitama project. Now, the reason why the community house “Bonsai Shiki no Ie” in Bonsai Village was transformed into a digital art exhibition space becomes clear.
