What is IMAGEUM ？
The word of IMAGE is generally used to refer to human sensory expressions such as scenes you imagine in your mind, feelings you have toward things, or imagining(virtualizing) something in your head that don’t really exist. However, on the other hand, it can also refer to images, photographs, videos, etc., making the word of IMAGE(イメージ) is used in a very multifaceted way.
The word IMAGE often appears in the art field as well IMAGEUM was established in Japan on the 1st. April 2024 as an online museum that deals only the digital data of images, photographs such as graphic works in the art field, and collecting, researching, preserving, and displaying these in a virtual spce (digital space).
IMAGE UM is a coined word which is combining the word IMAGE (images and photographs in the virtual space) and MUSEUM(art museum), then we are acting in Japan as the Japan Digital Graphic Museum.
Details of IMAGEUM activities
Collecting artistic graphic works (posters, illustrations, logos, photographs, and other flat printable images) from around the world as digital data and storing them on the cloud. Researching into its works and creator. Awareness-raising activities of the graphic works as digital art by publishing and introducing them on the cloud.
Through graphic works, activities are cooperated and collaborated with various organizations and individuals both in Japan and overseas, and are able to grow together and contribute to the local community in many ways.
Activities that seek various international cooperation and world peace through the use of graphic works.
Educational activities for the healthy development of young people by using of graphic works and the other social education activities.
What IMAGEUM is aiming for
In today, the digitization is rapidly progressing in various fields, providing a place (digital museum) where anyone can view works of art anytime and anywhere as long as they have an environment where internet communication is possible will enable barrier-free and global It made it possible to introduce and appreciate works of art. In the process, the word digital art was also born.
However, does digital art created with digital devices on the digital space have less artistic value than works created by former way on materials such as paper or canvas ? Is there no need to preserve it and leave it for posterity ? Compared to the art museums that exhibit real objects, can a digital museum not be said that a museum that exhibits works of art ? Despite these questions, IMAGIUM is acting to aim that the digital works created with looking to the future establish the status themselves as the status of one genre within the art field, and that digital museums become established as a new style of museum.
However, does digital art created with digital devices on the digital space have less artistic value than works created by former way on materials such as paper or canvas ? Is there no need to preserve it and leave it for posterity ? Compared to the art museums that exhibit real objects, can a digital museum not be said that a museum that exhibits works of art ? Despite these questions, IMAGIUM is acting to aim that the digital works created with looking to the future establish the status themselves as the status of one genre within the art field, and that digital museums become established as a new style of museum.
However in today is the digital society, the word of “digital art” has been born, and people are already beginning to recognize the value and necessity of both digital works and digital museums. If so, IMAGEUM aims to improve the artistic status of graphic works in the field of digital art and further evolve digital museums. And we also aim to carry out sustainable activities that preserve the digital graphic arts which we collect for future generations.
1st. April 2024 inauguration of IMAGEUM