Immersive Art Experience at World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto – FLOWERS BY NAKED 2019 –

Press release / NAKED Inc.

Commemorating 25th Anniversary of World Heritage Site Registration

FLOWERS BY NAKED 2019  – Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto –

FLOWERS BY NAKED has been held across the country in Tokyo (Nihonbashi), Nagoya, Okinawa and other locations, and to-date, has been received 500,000 visitors. This year, works were even displayed in Hong Kong and China.

This immersive flower art exhibition has been posted about more than 64,000 times on Instagram under “#flowersbynaked” as an artistic space where visitors can take photogenic photographs.

The event was first held last year at the World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle under the theme “Flowers and Tradition.” The event was highly praised for enabling visitors to enjoy a new autumn version of Nijo-jo Castle that had never before existed by fusing traditional buildings with advanced art.

In 2017 when NAKED was first incorporated into the presentation, the number of visitors to the World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle increased by nearly 400,000 people over the previous year. And now, Nijo-jo Castle, which has been standing watch over the turbulent course of Japanese history for the 400 years since its construction, continues to further enhance its charm together with cutting-edge art.

This year, the event’s second installment commemorates the 25th anniversary of Nijo-jo Castle’s registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1994). Accordingly, the event has been scaled up and will feature a larger production area than last year. For the first time ever, visitors can experience the world of “FLOWERS BY NAKED” both indoors and outdoors.

And the theme this year is the “Chinese phoenix,” the symbol of eternal prosperity. The phoenix touches the fleeting beauty and vitality possessed by flowers, and when it takes to the sky, the ‘naked’ flowers decorate the old capital wrapped in the beauty of autumn as they flutter about Nijo-jo Castle, which has stood watch over Japan’s transitions for more than 400 years. As the story being spun reaches its climax, visitors get to view a newly-created, gorgeous, 3-dimensional collaboration piece featuring digital art together with ikebana arranged by Ikenobo, the Leading School of Floral Art.

[Art Work Overview]

BIG BOOK 

Story prologue. An Objet d’art of a book approx. 2.7m × 3.5m that has become one of FLOWERS BY NAKED’s most noted works.

AKIKAZE (Autumn Breeze) Karamon Gate, an Important Cultural Property / Projection Mapping

The story begins as you pass through the gate together with the phoenix. The world of FLOWERS BY NAKED entices you in through all five senses, including aroma.

RISSHU (First day of Autumn) Ninomaru Palace, a National Treasure / Projection Mapping + Lighting

The gorgeous historical buildings become beautifully and powerfully bathed in range of autumnal colors.

Light-Up – Ninomaru Garden, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty

This symmetrical scenic beauty can be seen reflected in the pond. The beautiful lighting carves out a special night in Kyoto.

SHUSHO (Autumn Evening) Inner Moat / Projection Mapping + Lighting
The Chinese phoenix, this year’s theme, can be seen on the surface of the water. This is the first-ever showing of this dynamic production featuring the strength of life and beautiful flowers blooming on the water surface.

HO’O (Chinese Phoenix) Kitchen, an Important Cultural Property / Collaboration with Ikenobo, the Leading School of Floral Art

The climax of the story is a newly-created collaboration piece featuring 3-dimensional ikebana flower arrangements and digital art.

In addition, from October 11 (Fri.), prior to the opening of FLOWERS BY NAKED 2019 – Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto –, the Nijo-jo Castle Festival 2019 has been held featuring numerous events for visitors to enjoy the history and tradition of the World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle, including various types of tea ceremonies, public displays of artifacts not normally viewable, as well as a historical mystery rally in which participants visit locations spread throughout the entire castle.

FLOWERS BY NAKED 2019 Official digest video

1030 nijojo flowers (1).mp4

[Event Overview]

Event name: Commemorating 25th Anniversary of World Heritage Site Registration

FLOWERS BY NAKED 2019   – Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto –

Period: October 26 (Sat.) ~ December 8 (Sun.), 2019

Event time: 17:30~22:00 (Admission opens at 17:45 / Admission closes at 21:00)

Venue: Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle (541 Nijojo-cho, Horikawa-nishiiru, Nijo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto)

Admission fee: [Early discount sales] Adult (junior high school age or older): 1,000 yen; Elementary school student: 600 yen

(September 17 (Tue.) ~ October 25 (Fri.), 2019)

[General sales] Adult (junior high school age or older): 1,400 yen;

Elementary school student: 800 yen

(October 26 (Sat.) ~ December 8 (Sun.), 2019)

Sponsor: Kyoto City, FLOWERS BY NAKED 2019 – Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto – Production Committee

Special cooperation from: Ikenobo, the Leading School of Floral Art

Cooperation from: Fujifilm Holdings Corporation and @Aroma Co., Ltd.

Support from: Japan Cultural Expo

Inquiries: Formal Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle Office, Culture and Citizens Affairs Bureau of Kyoto City

TEL: +81-(0)75-841-0096（8:45〜17:00）

Official website: https://flowers.naked.works/2019nijo-jo/

Planning, production and creation by: NAKED Inc.

About NAKED Inc.:

The creative company was founded in 1997, when Ryotaro Muramatsu as the central figure got together with a number of visual directors, designers, CG directors and writers. Without limiting itself to a medium or genre, it pursues a variety of creative activities such as film, advertising, TV, and installations. Starting with projection mapping, NAKED has, in recent years, undertaken complex productions in a space that combines diverse technologies, processes of artistic creation and productions and uses light. To date, the events and shows that our company has planned, created and produced have attracted a total of over three million visitors.

Company Site: https://naked.co.jp/

NAKED Inc. Twitter Account: @NAKED_STAFF /

NAKED Inc. Instagram Account: @naked_inc

NAKED Inc. WeChat Account：@NAKED沉浸式数字空间

NAKED Inc. Weibo Account：@NAKED沉浸式数字空间

Contact: Ryuta Shimba / NAKED Inc. (art@ryotaro-muramatsu.com)

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