News

X-tech Management and Startbahn Partner Up to Create a Distribution Model for Emerging Artists’ Works

2020.08.24

Press Release

X-tech Management,Ltd (Head office: Kyoto City, Kyoto; President: Makoto Kitamura; hereinafter “X-tech Management") and Startbahn, Inc. (Head office: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Taihei SHII; hereinafter “Startbahn”) will hold an exhibition by artists from Kyoto University of the Arts at a new lodging facility called "Kyo no Ondokoro TAKEYAMACHI," in the Marutamachi area of Kyoto, started by Wacoal Corp. (Head office: Minami-ku, Kyoto; CEO: Tomoyasu Ito; hereinafter “Wacoal”) to create a new distribution model for artworks.

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■ Background

X-tech Management is a venture company from the Kyoto University of the Arts that trains IoT creators and supports startup businesses. Startbahn builds an infrastructure and services to support the distribution of artworks, primarily using blockchain technology.

The two companies are pleased to announce that they will hold an exhibition, "An Exhibition Just for One Group Per Night," at the newly opened Kyo no Ondokoro TAKEYAMACHI in the Marutamachi area of Kyoto, owned by Wacoal. Curated by X-tech Management, the exhibition will feature works by Kyoto University of the Arts graduates and provide an opportunity for their work to be exhibited and purchased. In addition, Startbahn will provide a system to guarantee and protect the value of the artworks and royalty-type revenues using blockchain technology. We aim to build a new distribution model for young artists, including current students and graduates of the Kyoto University of the Arts going beyond this exhibition.


“An Exhibition Just for One Group Per Night” by Kyoto University of the Arts graduate artists

Only guests of the “Kyo no Ondokoro TAKEYAMACHI” will be able to enjoy the works of this exhibition. The artworks will be available for online purchases and will be shipped to the purchaser after the exhibition period. More artworks will be exhibited in the bakery and cafe "Honjutsu-no (bread-of-the-day)" on the first floor.

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For the guests of “Kyo no Ondokoro TAKEYAMACHI,” this exhibition adds the fascination with travel, since they will come across one-time artworks during their stay. For the artists, it is an opportunity to meet new collectors as well as an opportunity to have their work viewed. This exhibition is a long-term project, and the artworks and artists will be replaced every three months. It will provide an opportunity for both guests and artists to meet new people and encounter new opportunities.

The artworks and artists in this exhibition will be selected from current and former students of Kyoto University of the Arts, and will be curated by X-tech Management. The first exhibition (September 4, 2020) will feature the works of a Kyoto-based artist, Sachiko KAWAKAMI.


■ The Artworks Exhibited Will Have “Cert.” Attached, an Blockchain Certificate with IC tags

The artworks at the exhibition will have “Cert.” attached to it. Cert. is a blockchain certificate provided by Startbahn, which utilizes the blockchain and IC tag technology to provide a more reliable certificate for artworks.

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By scanning the IC tag on a smartphone or other devices, the purchaser of the artwork can easily view the basic information about the piece as well as an issuer information, its provenance, its unique rule set, etc. Cert. can not only be used in the same way as current paper certificates, but also be more reliable to guarantee the authenticity of the work since the blockchain system is more tamper-resistant. As a result, even those who have never owned an artwork before can safely purchase it as a fun part of their travel.

It also allows artists to manage the distribution and capture provenance of their work after it is sold. Cert. allows artists to set their own rules for the trade and use of their work, which is automatically applied for each transaction. Not only does this make it easier to manage the distribution of artworks, but it also allows artists to receive distribution revenues. It provides a mechanism for current students and graduates of Kyoto University of the Arts to engage in artistic activities without financial worries.


■ About Kyo no Ondokoro TAKEYAMACHI

Kyo no Ondokoro TAKEYAMACHI is a new lodging facility in the Marutamachi area of Kyoto opening on September 4, 2020. This is the eighth "Kyo no Ondokoro," and will be located in Takeyacho, a convenient area for sightseeing in the city with a traditional atmosphere. The building is an old Kyoto townhouse renovated for a modern lifestyle, making use of the unique space designed for "work-life integration." Also, on the first floor, there is a bakery and cafe "Honjutsu-no (bread-of-the-day)."

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【Address】371 Sashimonoyacho, Takeyacho-dori Nishinotoin Higashi-iru, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto.
【Access】About 6 minutes on foot from “Marutamachi” Station Exit 6
【Opening day】Friday, September 4, 2020
【Price】30,000 yen per night (tax included, depends on the number of people and season)
Reservation starts on Friday, August 14.

▼ Click here for details.
https://www.kyo-ondokoro.kyoto/en/


■ About Sachiko Kawakami

Artist based in Kyoto. Born in 1984, she graduated from Kyoto University of the Arts in 2009 with a master's degree in Art and Design.

Kawakami is interested in the moment when human beings recognize and create forms. She creates works that explore the roots of cognition and creativity. Focusing on the diversity created by autonomous repetition of even simple elements, she creates dense, visually tactile figures through repetition and patterning of shapes in a manner that resembles organic substances. She uses various forms of expression, including drawing, printmaking, sculpture and installation.

In 2009, Kawakami received the Chaos Prize at the Graduate School Exhibition at Kyoto University of the Arts, the Spiral Encouragement Award at SICF11 in 2010, the Sanwa Company Design Award for Excellence in 2016, and many other prizes.


■ About X-tech Management, Inc.

X-tech Management,Ltd brings together top creators, business experts, communication creators, and evangelists who are leading IoT, to support the creation of new works, technologies, services, and intellectual property, and to match them with companies. Once a product is out, the company provides one-stop support for marketing, and develops the products and services which are more deeply integrated with society.


■ About Startbahn, Inc.

Startbahn is a company that aims to realize a richer society by providing the technology needed by artists and people involved in art all over the world. We are promoting the development of Startrail, a blockchain infrastructure for art distribution and evaluation. We are also developing Startbahn Cert., a service using Startrail, and working on joint projects with other companies.

▼ Click here for more information.
https://startbahn.jp/en/


■ For Inquiry

X-tech Management, Inc.
YOSHIDA Daisaku
yoshida-d@office.kyoto-art.ac.jp
075-791-9121

Startbahn, Inc.
PR: Risa Mizuno
pr@startbahn.jp