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Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation by Noriko Kinouchi

Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation by Noriko Kinouchi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Eisen in Bildende Kunst Competition Category.


EisenBildende Kunst· 2026

Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation

by Noriko Kinouchi

A' Design Award in Eisen Winner in Bildende Kunst Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation

Kaei Ryusui ist eine ortsspezifische Kunstinstallation, die für den Hauptspeisesaal eines Luxus-Kreuzfahrtschiffs geschaffen wurde. Die Arbeit verbindet acht großformatige Grafikdrucke mit einer fortlaufenden digitalen Sequenz in 4K-Auflösung. Jeder Druck misst 1456 mal 762 Millimeter, wird im Inkjet-Verfahren auf handgeschöpftem Washi-Papier gedruckt und anschließend in Rahmen montiert, die für das maritime Umfeld geeignet sind. Motive von Blüten der Jahreszeiten, Zweigen und fließendem Wasser wandeln sich langsam und greifen die japanische Wertschätzung der Vergänglichkeit auf. Jedes Werk ist in einem Blockchain-Register erfasst, um seine Provenienz zu dokumentieren.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Eisen

Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Eisen, einer prestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für gute Designs, die die beruflichen und industriellen Anforderungen erfüllen, die an gut gestaltete Schöpfungen gestellt werden. Eisen-Gewinner zeigen großes Können, hohe Spezialisierung, fachkundiges Verständnis und die kreative Kapazität ihrer Schöpfer. Von Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation wird erwartet, dass es eine hochgeschätzte, bewunderte und geliebte Schöpfung ist, die praktisch und innovativ ist. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Eisen prämierte Design integriert bewährte Branchenverfahren und weist kompetente technische Merkmale in Verbindung mit Know-how und Talent auf. Kaei Ryusui Kunstinstallation wird für seine Gründlichkeit geschätzt und ist darauf ausgelegt, Verbesserungen der Lebensqualität zu liefern, die dazu beitragen, die Welt zu einem besseren Ort zu machen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Kaei Ryusui-tan is a site-specific installation comprising eight large-scale graphic works and a fluid visual sequence that transforms the environment into a moving painting. Inspired by the Japanese aesthetic of impermanence, the motifs of seasonal flora and flowing water shift continuously. To ensure the integrity of this collection, each work is registered on the Startrail Registry Record (SRR) blockchain. This digital provenance secures the design's originality and protects the intellectual property rights of both the creator and the client within the maritime setting.
Dimensions & Packaging
Each graphic print measures 1456 x 762 mm, inkjet-printed on handmade washi paper and mounted in frames optimized for durability at sea. The installation consists of eight prints and a central digital sequence rendered in 4K resolution (3840 x 2160 px). As a key technical property, the work is integrated with the Startrail Registry Record (SRR) blockchain to secure its digital identity and provenance.
Tags
digital art, art installation, site-specific, fine art prints, ambient animation, Japanese aesthetics, cruise ship, meditative space, contemporary art, luxury design
Production Technology
The graphics were produced as high-resolution digital compositions using Adobe software. Each piece was inkjet-printed onto custom-sized handmade washi paper, measuring 1456 x 762 mm, and mounted in specialized frames for the maritime environment. The fluid imagery was developed in 4K resolution using After Effects, layering motion and light. To manage these assets, the project integrates the Startrail Registry Record (SRR) blockchain infrastructure, assigning a unique digital identity to each piece for permanent provenance tracking and authenticity verification.
Design Challenge
The primary challenge was integrating a digital work into the ship's architecture without it appearing as a conventional screen display. To solve this, motifs were scaled and paced to feel like a living landscape. Another difficulty was preserving the subtlety of traditional Japanese aesthetics while using contemporary media; this was resolved by softening visual transitions to allow the imagery to merge naturally with the washi texture. Additionally, using SRR blockchain solved the challenge of securing the long-term value and provenance of art within a complex maritime management system.
Research
This research explored reinterpreting the Japanese sense of impermanence through contemporary digital media. Objectives focused on translating traditional motifs—blossoms and flowing water—into a moving environment. Methods included iterative graphic studies and material experiments with washi paper. Results demonstrated that expanding traditional imagery into a luminous, evolving landscape evokes a renewed perception of time. Furthermore, the integration of SRR blockchain establishes a framework for managing digital provenance, ensuring authenticity for high-value corporate art collections.
Inspiration
The inspiration for Kaei Ryusui-tan stems from the Japanese aesthetic of "mono no aware," finding profound beauty in impermanence and seasonal transitions. Traditional motifs of blossoms, branches, and flowing water are reimagined not as static depictions, but as an evolving luminous landscape. By bridging cultural memory with contemporary digital expression, the project establishes a poetic presence on board the luxury liner Asuka III, where the art unfolds as a continuous living environment that resonates with timeless sensibilities.
Project Duration
The project was produced in 2025 in Tokyo and permanently installed within the main dining room of the luxury cruise ship Asuka III.
Operation Flow
The work functions as an immersive environment rather than a static display. Eight seasonal graphics are paired with a digital sequence that continuously shifts in tone and rhythm across the dining space. As observers move through the room, their perception of the space evolves with the flow of light and imagery, mirroring the experience of observing a natural landscape through passing seasons. This gentle transformation encourages a state of contemplation and emotional resonance, allowing the art to breathe within the architectural volume.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Noriko Kinouchi
Team Members
Noriko Kinouchi
Image Credits
#1: Nacasa & Partners,Ka-ei Ryusui tan,2025
#2: Art front gallery, Ka-ei Ryusui tan,2025
#3: Art front gallery, Ka-ei Ryusui tan,2025
#4: Art front gallery, Ka-ei Ryusui tan,2025
#5: Art Front Gallery, Ka-ei Ryusui tan,2025

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