While traditional art explores the bounds of reality and feelings, the realm of digital art attempts to go further and serve a wider set of purposes. Technology plays a big part in rendition and perception, and that's evident in the current Asia Digital Art Award showcase. The exhibition, which takes place at National Science Museum, Chamchuri Square, shows a variety of still and moving images as well interactive arts, which are the winners of 2012 Asia Digital Art Award Fukuoka.
The augmented reality application called ‘ARART’ developed by Japanese artists, bringing the characters in paintings or drawings to life.
The aesthetics of digital pieces are not the same as those created on canvas. Digital art, besides being made to exhibit, can be applied in diverse industries such as movies, games and advertising. That's the main difference betwen art and digital art, said Prof Shigekazu Sakai of Waseda University, a committee member of Asia Digital Art Award.
Prof Etsuo Genda, department of Content Creative Design, Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, another committee member, said the techniques of digital art have been used extensively by mainstream media to create displays in public places, advertisers, game designers and filmmakers to produce special effects.
At the 2012 contest in Japan, a piece called Never Ending by Peerapong Amronkundet from Thailand won the grand prize in the moving image categrory. Four other teams of Thai animators were also among the finalists.
The committee was surprised with the talent of Thai creators who were participating in the contest for just the second year, with Peerapong winning the big prize. Prof Genda commented that Thais are skilled at animation, however in the field of digital art they are efficient with the technical tools but still need further conceptual practise. One thing that Thai creators should have in their works is the "originality and sense of Thainess".
At the exhibition, apart from the awards of still images by artists from many countries such Japan, Korea and China, visitors can explore the appeal of interactive art, as well.
Thai animation Never Ending took the grand prize in animation.
One of the highlights is Anime Manzai by Akiraboy, who won the grand prize in the entertainment category. Manzai is a type of comedy routine that originated in the Kansai region of Japan, but which has since spread to the rest of the country. For this project, the creator acts with a digital character according to a scenario, so people feel that creator and character are playing in real time.
Channeler, the winner of moving image award by Ohashi Takashi, is a clever animation using English and Japanese characters. The visuals work well with the quirky music.
Arart, an augmented reality (AR) app, was developed by Japanese artists Kei Shiratori, Takeshi Mukai and Younghyo Bak, who take well-known paintings or drawings and translate them into real-time virtual animations. By viewing the iconic creations via the pre-configured software, the app re-creates a scene using AR, bringing the characters to life. Examples of these interactive pieces include the Mona Lisa, or the white rabbit from Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. The app also has the capability to simulate spinning records and sound which can be controlled by manipulating it on an iPhone touch-screen display.
Ultra Soft Water TVCM by Miura who won the Entertainment Award For Excellence (Applied Industry), presents interactive projection mapping. They built a mixed reality using technology that processes film data and allows reality and computer graphics to naturally blend in real-time.
Projection mapping is a technique that is now popular. It's a filming technique that allows synchronisation between real objects and virtual images through the use of a projector. It is not just simply projecting an image onto a flat surface; moving images or computer graphics can be projected onto architectural structures, furniture, uneven surfaces, and more. The image's movements will make the object to appear to move and change accordingly.
Besides aesthetic merits, animation and its applied practice has also been adapted by serious games for war simulation and rehabilitation. In Japan, Genda said animation has been used to treat senior citizens who have Alzheimer's disease, and those who suffer from loneliness.
Anime Manzai by Akiraboy. Creator acts with a digital character according to a scenario, so viewers feel that creator and character are playing in real time.
In Kyushu University, the Faculty of Design has worked with Medical Faculty in utilising animation graphics for medical treatment purposes.
Both Japanese professors share a view that today schools and universities need to create students who are capable in both fields of science and art. Previously, artists and engineers worked separately in two seemingly opposite fields, but today, technology and art have more touch points, and a lot of people have both perspectives. Students who have an artistic sensibility and logical thinking are at an advantage.
In the past, artists imagined and drew, but today in the world of digital art they imagine and then programme of their vision.
Dubbed Digital Da Vinci these people have an artistic sense with logical thinking, Prof said it's easier for science students as they already have the fundamentals of logical thinking, and they can work on the artistic side. But Prof Sakai said in the past, artists learned how to draw by hand, and engineers had a good idea and imagination in their heads, but they didn't know how to draw. Computers are very logical _ if the artist wants to use a computer, he/she has to use logical thinking.
"Scientists or engineers who learn science at a young age, it's not too difficult to learn _ it's easy to use computer. But for me it's it's very difficult to get an artistic sense. I think in their young age, a person has to learn both scientific and artistic disciplines," said the professor.
The animation project grand prize winner, Never Ending, by Peerapong Amronkundet, and several impressive art projects from Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Thai artists are on display at the National Science Museum, Science Square, 4th floor of Chamchuri Square, until Oct 31.
