digmeout: Osaka-based Art Project For The World

25 May 2007 Category: Fashion, Features, Illustration, Japan

digmeout is an art project run by the Osaka radio station FM802 that has been discovering and promoting young artists since 1994. The project scopes out gifted talents not only in the Kansai region but from all over Japan, and has given them opportunities for exhibitions and collaborations. Today, PingMag asked “digmeout” producer Yoshihiro Taniguchi about their exciting new talents.

Written by Chiemi
Translated by Natsumi Yamane

First of all, can you tell us a little bit about “digmeout?”

“digmeout” is an art project led by Osaka’s FM802. It originally started as a part of the radio station’s promotion – hosting auditions and exhibitions to introduce the works of artists mainly based in the Kansai area. As time went by, we had a growing number of artists who were ready to take the nation by storm, so we decided to expand this project. That led to the launch of the art book. However, to publish it as an extension of FM802 may be seen as additional PR for the radio station, so we decided to use the word “digmeout” – literally “dig me out” – to represent our new concept for this project.

What made you use artists for the radio station’s promotion in the first place?

FM802 is a relatively new station, so we needed to differentiate ourselves from the other stations. Then, we came up with two concepts: One is to play rock music strictly geared towards younger listeners; and the other is to place emphasis on the visual elements. Obviously, we’re dealing with a non-visual medium so it’s a bit odd to be saying this, but this is the very reason why we thought it was important to construct logos and posters, in order to get more exposure with the outside world. This way, people interested in the visuals will eventually find their way back to the radio station.

Initially, K2’s Seitaro Kuroda was in charge of the visuals, and was very well received. Then at one point, we organised a design competition for our logo and we received an amazing total of 5000 entries. 802 is open to anything that would interest young people and not just music, so as demand from the audience increased, the competition became an annual event around 1994. Many national level artists such as Groovisions, Masakatsu Takagi and Kyotaro Aoki were coming out of the competition, and we finally decided on our 10th anniversary to make real efforts for these young talented artists to see the light.

At “digmeout”, what do you exactly do to support the artists you have discovered?

In the first year, we ask the artists to do trial projects such as designing 802 posters and participating in exhibitions. During that process, we assess if the artists are capable of meeting deadlines; if they can re-touch their work as needed; if they can work under pressure, etc. Then, we will take them on as an agent, and for those artists with greater aspiration, we publish art books and distribute them outside of Japan or organise exhibitions overseas, too.

Can you introduce some of your most successful projects?

There is one called RESONART, a collaboration project with the Resona Bank. The works of digmeout artists appear on their cash cards as a promotion. So far, 13 illustrations have come out already. Generally, Japanese bank cash cards only use popular characters like Hello Kitty and Snoopy. This project was aimed at creating a fresh and youthful image for the bank by introducing the works of young up-and-coming artists. Surprisingly, the bank has had approximately 500,000 new accounts set up in total between 2003 until now. The majority of these customers were young women in their 20s, which was the target market the bank had been trying to reach unsuccessfully. Incidentally, according to the employees of the bank such an account set up on client’s own accord is more likely to be valued and cherished; and the card is used for their main transactions including credit card payments, salary deposit, home mortgage and educational loans etc.

The other successful project is a promotion for a Nissan car named “WINGROAD.” WINGROAD is a model that serves leisure purposes, so there was a request to link the car with a project where the concept evolved around bringing dreams to young individuals. We started by choosing 4 artists in the first year and asked them to come up with art stories about the car; which were then distributed at no cost at Nissan galleries. The URL for a website containing the details of real-existing secret garages somewhere in the country were printed on these literatures. digmeout artists organised exhibitions and parties at those secret garages and the reports were updated on a daily basis on their blog. We picked out “garage” as our keyword because of the significant role it often plays when young artists are starting up. To this day, we still rent garages jointly with Nissan. This project was received extremely well, and last year, we even did a national exhibition tour, transporting the artists and their works on WINGROAD cars.

That sounds like a “rock’n” kind of project – how do you feel about the art scene in Osaka? Is it any different to Tokyo’s?

30 percent of the “digmeout” artists come from Tokyo, but finding an agency to support artists in the capital seems to be quite difficult. And even if radio stations over there organised a similar promotion, Tokyo is too big of a place to create a hype to call its own. On the other hand, Osaka is a smaller city so it’s easy to spread the word on things going around the city. Furthermore, it’s smaller than Tokyo but big enough to influence the nation – we actually call it “the perfect smallness” – hence this kind of nurturing system for artists exists in the community. Another interesting thing about Osaka, too.

There are also many professionals who come to find work in Tokyo, who present themselves well with great portfolios. But that doesn’t always mean that they produce art works that no one has ever seen before. In that respect, a lot of the artists in Kansai still live with their parents, so they can eat even if their works don’t sell. In other words, there are many people who do art for the sake of it, even if they can’t earn their own bowl of rice and miso – people whose lives are dedicated to art. The lives of these artists may be unstable, but they are bound to have interesting characters, and although many of them lack in stoical elements, there are still many interesting talents. Also, the fact that the lives of these youngsters are linked to one another through Osaka is intriguing, too.

Do you discover talents by means other than auditions, too?

Including myself, all the curators and producers involved in the project run around Osaka on bicycles everyday, and pop into various events and exhibitions – by that I mean – we are constantly in communication with the community. So, the community will let us know if there happens to be a talented artist trying working hard among us.

Are there any foreign artists at digmeout?

Although the number of foreign artists who we represent is still very small, we get artists pitching their works from all over the world. We are not fully prepared to receive them at this time, but that’s something we would like to consider in the future.

Which artists stand out the most at digmeout at the moment?

Well, there is CHO-CHAN, who has just finished a joint exhibition in April with another artist called Shiori Kawamoto in Portland, USA. This pair is turning out to be a very promising duo. In June, we will hold the same exhibition for them at our gallery in Japan, too.

Kana Otsuki just passed our audition this year so we haven’t promoted her yet, but she has a rare talent in fine art too.

As for contemporary art, there is Taoka Kazuya – he is preparing for an exhibition in Korea at the moment. He expresses his impression of the day-to-day memory on to a canvas. His use of colours is contemporary and has attracted much attention in the art scenes.

Do you have any ongoing projects at the moment?

We have just opened a website called ARTEE.jp, which sells T-shirts online that are somewhere in-between art and fashion. In the future, we would like to develop the site to make original works of art, and make shopping from abroad available, too.

For the Nissan project, we are planning to organise exhibitions and live concerts in Okinawa this summer. We would have to cross the sea, but using the car is an essential part of it, so we will probably have to take the cars onto the ferry. (laughs)

Also in September, there is another exhibition planned in Portland, USA.

Portland and Osaka – that sounds like an interesting combination!

The city of Portland is not that big so there is a friendly atmosphere there. Many headquarters of international companies are located there too, making the city an extremely creative place to be in. Many people from the local creative industry have been so kind to drop by our exhibition, and we are starting to get more work from that connection, too. We now have a particularly good relationship with a local gallery called Compound.

What would you say is digmeout’s goal in the future?

We would like to motivate the artists more, like in Tokyo, and set up a system where they can earn their own living. Also, we would very much like to come up with a program for artists to learn the necessary elements in creating world-class works. And in addition to our activities for 100 artists that we represent, digmeout will aim to provide a space for artists to freely exchange information with each other in a much larger framework that also involves their surrounding environments.

Mr.Taniguchi, thank you very much for your time today! We look forward to seeing more of the artists “dug out” by your people!

53 Comments

1. That’s great for up-and-coming artists.

   Posted by: HDR Photography on May 25th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

2. i’ve been reading dgmout for several months, it’s great ^)

   Posted by: lyao on May 25th, 2007 at 9:41 pm

3. What a wonderful system! Its really exciting to see a company so involved in supporting emerging visual artists.

   Posted by: Helen on May 25th, 2007 at 10:47 pm

4. Great article.

   Makes me wish there are more projects like digmeout everywhere in the world that will discover potential artists.

   Posted by: G on May 25th, 2007 at 11:34 pm

5. A great way to showcase new and up-and-coming talent. Looks fantastic!

   Posted by: johno on May 26th, 2007 at 4:39 am

6. I like Kana Otsuki’s painting a lot. Can’t find anything else out about her, but would like to. Any information out there? Kana?

   Posted by: 2 on May 26th, 2007 at 6:28 am

7. [...] 26th, 2007 ( via pingmag.jp [...]

   Posted by: digmeout: Osaka-based Art Project For The World « dérive on May 26th, 2007 at 11:49 am

8. I bought the digmeout volume 4 when I was in Japan about 3 years ago. I really love it & was excited to read more about the concept on pingpag today! Thanks!

   Posted by: Hannah on May 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pm

9. HI! Nice design!
   

   Posted by: Porn kwt on May 27th, 2007 at 1:43 pm

10. [...] this PingMag interview: We have just opened a website called ARTEE.jp, which sells T-shirts online that [...]

    Posted by: Geek Bazaar » funkey japanese shirts on May 27th, 2007 at 6:02 pm

11. Is ‘ena’ the one responsible for MINK’s album covers?

    Posted by: Aaron Roselo on May 28th, 2007 at 4:47 pm

12. Brilliant!
    Digmeout: the voice of the little people!

    Posted by: Sarah-Grace on May 31st, 2007 at 9:56 pm

13. .. ,..

    Posted by: Ai Safari on October 3rd, 2007 at 2:11 am

14. Wonderful artwork

    Posted by: Japan News in English on November 24th, 2007 at 6:51 am

15. 电火花检测仪…

    好有趣啊，呵呵！…

    Posted by: 电火花检测仪 on April 10th, 2008 at 12:52 am

16. I found this is an informative and interesting post so i think so it is very useful and knowledgeable. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abfasfsafility has inspired me. Really the article is spreading its wings rapidly.

    Posted by: men watches online on May 24th, 2011 at 8:29 am

17. Very informative website you have here. I will definately recommend your site to all of my Social Netwoking Sites. Thanks for posting such valuable content and providing your expertise on this subject.

    Posted by: mlm experts on June 4th, 2011 at 11:01 am

18. Wow great stuff. I love what you have here.

    Posted by: Lightyear wireless on June 5th, 2011 at 5:04 am

19. like your website, looks cool,some interesting stuff on it keep up the good work.

    Posted by: Information For Creating Profitable Niche Market Websites. on June 9th, 2011 at 2:53 am

20. I want to see the many development of this site.

    Posted by: healthcare on June 14th, 2011 at 2:27 pm

21. Here’s another great article on the subject: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/why-do-we-need-personal-development-to-be-successful

    Posted by: personal development on June 16th, 2011 at 4:36 am

22. Nice Website! You should promote it from the messaging console at QuickSendSMS.com. Easy to use, nice and quick and you can text friends about it for free.

    Posted by: QuickSendSMS on June 16th, 2011 at 5:48 pm

23. You have to be right here now in my head with all of the information you gave out.

    Posted by: weightlifting routines on June 17th, 2011 at 8:42 am

24. Energie rinnovabili Fai da te

    Posted by: energie rinnovabili on June 17th, 2011 at 10:56 am

25. Nice site.Really interesting reading.Thanks for the post.

    Posted by: The Diet Solution by Isabel on June 24th, 2011 at 11:42 pm

26. I want to see the many development of this site.

    Posted by: Internet Strategy on June 25th, 2011 at 2:50 pm

27. Your blog contains many interesting topics which I have enjoyed. It will be source of very important and interesting education for many years. What I was most interested in is how to get free traffic to my blogs with very little effort.

    Posted by: free website traffice on July 3rd, 2011 at 10:06 am

28. Wonderful knowledgeable and organized site.

    Posted by: Affiliate Marketing Reviews on July 12th, 2011 at 10:31 am

29. Your blog posts are awsome. I like it. Please keep updating your posts.I think it is great for facial treatments for acne.

    Posted by: facial treatments for acne on July 28th, 2011 at 8:24 pm

30. Here you find a way to promote your blog with facebook like’s

    Posted by: Free Facebook Like's on July 31st, 2011 at 1:29 am

31. I’m a giant fan of foreign exchange and finance so I find this topic very interesting. I never thought of it like that.

    Posted by: Marketing Strategy Template on August 16th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

32. I am a big fan of forex and finance so I find this topic very interesting. I always like to undertsand a new way of looking at it. Thanks for the information.

    Posted by: Examples Viral Marketing on August 17th, 2011 at 12:50 pm

33. Hi, I like your website. I’m currently looking for golf supplies in the UK & USA.

    Posted by: golf supplies on August 23rd, 2011 at 11:39 pm

34. I really would like to learn more information about your business, what is it and why is it important.

    Posted by: Perfect Pitch Recognition on October 11th, 2011 at 2:33 am

35. INFOSYS Hiring Oct 2011

    Posted by: frehers on October 19th, 2011 at 9:31 pm

36. Very Nice! makes me remind the coloured performance of the early pink floyd!

    Posted by: christian louboutin on November 10th, 2011 at 1:45 am

37. Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I’m also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

    Posted by: zaklady sportowe on November 19th, 2011 at 12:34 am

38. Thanks for the interesting post. I swear, you learn something new every day.

    Posted by: professional bra fitting on November 23rd, 2011 at 1:39 am

39. school of thai massage and spa certificaes Association of thai treditional medicine Appoved by the Ministry of Health

    Posted by: School of thai massage on November 25th, 2011 at 2:50 am

40. จากประสบการณ์กว่า 20 ปี เกี่ยวกับธุรกิจยา และอาหารเสริม พร้อมความมุ่งมั่นที่จะพัฒนาอาหารเสริมของไทยให้ทัดเทียมกับระดับสากล เพื่อตอบสนองทุกความต้องการของทุกกลุ่มผู้บริโภค ทั้งเรื่องของคุณภาพ และราคา จนได้รับการยอมรับจากกลุ่มผู้บริโภคจากหลากหลายสาขาอาชีพ ไม่ว่าจะเป็น กลุ่มนักธุรกิจ พนักงานออฟฟิศ แม่บ้าน นักเรียน นักศึกษา ไปจนถึงกลุ่มศิลปิน ดารา นักแสดง

    Posted by: อาหารเสริมนาตาลีเดวิส on November 26th, 2011 at 10:29 pm

41. wat a nice post

    Posted by: Movies and TV Series on November 30th, 2011 at 4:16 am

42. I was Mtalbtvn

    Posted by: reza atayee fard on December 4th, 2011 at 6:46 am

43. Travel Trips has been succesfully catering to travellers across the globe with its well established and secured Global Hotel Reservation System. Our 24X7 customer care support is there all along to help people with their hotel reservations, cancellations and other related issues. Featured are some interesting testimonials from our valued customers vouching for the credibility of Travel Trips.

    Posted by: Travel Trips on December 6th, 2011 at 3:03 am

44. สารสกัดจากธรรมชาติต่างๆ ที่นำมาเป็นอาหารเสริมเช่น กลูต้าไธโอน,แอลคาร์นิทีน, น้ำมันรำข้าว, กรดอะมิโนต่างๆ และอื่นๆ นั้นมีประโยชน์ต่อร่างกายของเราอย่างไรบ้าง

    Posted by: กลูต้าไธโอน on December 6th, 2011 at 10:27 pm

45. I think this is all politics

    Posted by: Abdominal muscle on December 8th, 2011 at 6:33 am

46. its a nice and interesting post, congratulations and happy holidays!

    Posted by: diet and fitness on December 20th, 2011 at 7:33 pm

47. Hey this is awesome blogs. Keep posted usefull information. Thank you

    Posted by: roll up awnings on January 5th, 2012 at 6:47 pm

48. Thanks for this post. It is very useful. I hope you will write an article. This issue again.

    Posted by: illslick on January 17th, 2012 at 5:46 am

49. Thank you for this post!

    Posted by: titanium visa on January 24th, 2012 at 5:52 am

50. If you are seeking a well-seasoned group of veteran painting and decorating professionals in the London area, your search is finally over when you discover the greatness of DecorCraft Services. With over 50% of our customers coming from the good works they tell others about, the clean and expert atmosphere that our professional crew of painting and decorating professionals will bring is phenomenal. We are respectful and complete every assignment that we are given in the most accurate and timeliest of fashions, and take into account the budget that you may have set for the project.

    Posted by: Painting and Decorating on January 26th, 2012 at 8:18 pm

51. Polnische-Hochzeiten, Hochzeit, Hochzeit-Band, Hochzeitsband NRW Polnische Hochzeitsband Hochzeitsmusik Polnische Hochzeit

    Posted by: Deutsch Polnische Musik Band f�r Ihre Hochzeit, Feier, Geburtstag aus M�nster NRW. on January 27th, 2012 at 7:31 am

52. Hi ….. I have information about Whirlpool washers, you should read them and get tips and tricks commersial business with Whirlpool washers.

    Posted by: whirlpool washers on January 27th, 2012 at 7:07 pm

53. Polnische Band - Die deutsche und polnische Hochzeitsband aus M�nster NRW.

    Posted by: Polnische Band Russische Hochzeitsband der Spitzenklasse NRW on January 27th, 2012 at 7:13 pm

Name

Website

• Similar Articles
• » Holiday Special #3: Mari Kubota

• Share and Enjoy:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• Pleasures of Modern Tenugui PatternsCategory: Arts & Crafts Features Japan Products
  May 17, 2007
• StudioKanna: A Meaningful Approach To DesignCategory: Features Graphics Japan
  May 16, 2007
• S.O.Y. LABO: Elastic Folding StructuresCategory: Arts & Crafts Events & Exhibitions Japan Products
  May 14, 2007

Notice

As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.

Search