We were commissioned by a project in which eight artists were selected to create murals of 5m x 2m each on a 250meter temporary wall at a construction site where a large commercial facility was to be built, just outside the north exit of JR Numazu Station in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

The results of the implementation of this prop

1. Creation of a 5-meter × 2-meter mural
2. Installation of AR technology at the mural
3. Production of T-shirts featuring the mural design
4. Publication across various media outlets
5. Display of sponsor information

About Kabenuma

Summary

We wanted this work to express the bond between parents and children. Parents and children—that is, Nouns and LilNouns. Lils visited this place since childhood: eating hamburgers and drinking Coke at the Lotteria that used to be here, eating pizza at the family restaurant, buying records at the music shop, watching the fountain, taking taxis from the taxi stand, eating fries at the fast-food restaurant, and drinking coffee at the coffee shop. Lil-Shinchan was born and raised here, so he is truly a LilNouns with many memories. When I approached this mural, I felt inspired and was able to infuse the work with children’s memories—memories I myself should not have. That is, I personally have no childhood memories of this place; I had no recollections, nor did I even know the stories. However, feeling compelled to create the LilNouns mural allowed me to depict the “childhood memories” that everyone possesses in this way. Therefore, I feel this mural ultimately became something that evokes nostalgia and childhood memories for each viewer, rather than being solely about my own personal recollections.

Now, Japan has a custom called Obon. Obon is said to be a time when the departed return, much like Mexico’s “Day of the Dead,” and then depart once more. It feels as though I was able to depict precisely those invisible memories and hearts in this way. For the day this work was completed coincided with Japan’s Obon.

Indeed, people of our generation who were born and raised here have unanimously commented, without needing any special explanation from me, that “this painting is the very memory of childhood spent in this place.” In other words, this mural has been crafted so that anyone from anywhere in the world who comes here and sees it can draw inspiration from their own memories, allowing this work to evoke nostalgia and childhood recollections.

* Creation of a 5-meter by 2-meter mural

(The Process of Creating a Painting)

We also followed these steps to complete this mural. It was very important and challenging.

1. Submission of rough design
2. Creation of the underdrawing (1 week)
3. Painting (1 month)
4. Three coats of protective coating (1 week) To withstand at least three years of exposure to wind and rain, we applied three layers of protective coating. Guided by Liquitex, our sponsor and the art supply manufacturer, we applied a gloss polymer medium coating, followed by a matte varnish, and finally a Soliber gloss varnish coating. Consequently, the actual expenses were quite significant, which is why we submitted this application.

* Installing AR on the mural

We have equipped this mural with AR technology. Please see the video below for details. {%preview https://x.com/i/status/1956985794704666662 %}

* Produce T-shirts featuring the mural painting

We have begun production and sales of these T-shirts.

Suzuri

* Featured in various media outlets

Media Coverage https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/2c98536e803c805bf9b003909ca49703aca2b742 https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/sbs/2012864?display=1 https://izu.keizai.biz/photoflash/2987/

* Sponsor Display

Posting of signs

Mr. pip’s visit to Japan

https://x.com/60r90/status/1946920894602830280 Now, pip-san is scheduled to come to Shizuoka this December. We would like to hold a talk session with them in front of this mural. It might not be a very large-scale event.

Additionally, the mural has been registered as a Nounspot.

https://nounspot.com/

Budget

The necessary expenses are as follows.

• Art supplies: 1,000 USD *Liquitex, painting surface protection, etc. *because the outdoor exhibition period is 3 years
• Heat protection goods：600 USD *work clothes with fans, etc. *For Fukasawa and Tagawa
• Activity production costs: 3,000 USD *２parsons *Maximum production period １.５ months
• Sponsorship advertising costs: 1,000 USD → ０USD discount!! *Cost for displaying the LilNouns logo
• Transportation: 100 USD
• Food: 200 USD
• Hydration: 200 USD
• Tax: 500 USD *Liquitex provided $200 in art supplies. *Kabenuma Executive Committee provided $680.
• Total: 4,720USD(1.03 eth)

Finally

We’ve already received comments from overseas visitors via Instagram and Farcaster saying, “If you ever get the chance to come to Japan, you should definitely make this your destination.”

This proposal was rejected the first time around. But looking back now, I realize I might not have fully grasped the difference between LilNouns and Nouns at that time. My friend Fatty explained it to me. I finally understood and was able to incorporate the Lils I had overlooked into the mural.

You can see the mural coming together in this video. The Lils are properly depicted too.

For adults, this place evokes childhood memories and nostalgia. But when younger generations and children see this mural, it should spark their own hopes, dreams, and anticipation for the new commercial facility planned for this site.

Through collaborating with LilNouns this time, we feel we captured both perspectives. That is, the past, present, and future.

Thank you for reading to the end.

We prioritized collaborating with LilNouns and created this work with the mindset that it was okay even if the proposal wasn’t approved.

I promise that the funds I raise will not be used for my personal benefit, but will be poured into a “LilNounish future” – the future of children.

Because We, too, love LilNouns and Nouns.

Thanks Tagawa Makoto (Peter and Joseph) We are appNouns.com