Details of the Art Pieces
For this collaboration, two types of art—collage art and shredder art—were created, utilizing original COBRA illustrations in a bold and luxurious manner while showcasing Kawamura’s unique style. The fusion of these two entities, each possessing a one-of-a-kind worldview, has given birth to a new form of artistic expression.
The collage art is a piece that abundantly incorporates various characters from COBRA. A mirror finish using a metal canvas was applied to the hair sections, resulting in a work where the expression changes depending on the viewing angle. Kawamura mentioned that it took several months to begin production, stating, "In collage, if you put in too much, it becomes overwhelming. If you don't put in enough, it lacks interest. Ultimately, everything clicked the moment I concentrated the elements into the hair, and it created an impact suitable for a large-scale work."
The shredder art is a piece that provides a physical layer structure to a flat expression by printing intentional misalignments across separate layers of aluminum canvas and acrylic plates, which are then installed with the acrylic plate floating. Regarding this work, Kawamura commented, "From nearly 100 original COBRA illustrations, I chose ones that I felt would look cool as a single-poster piece to hang in a room, and by adding my signature shredder style, I pursued an expression that I found even cooler."
The works will be produced in a limited global edition of three pieces each (two types) and will be framed as metal canvas prints.
Future Developments
The ReVIBES Project is already preparing for its second phase, featuring a new IP and artist collaboration. They are currently selecting participating artists and target IPs from both Japan and abroad, with plans for new developments utilizing perspectives and expressions different from those seen so far. Details will be announced as they are finalized.
Project Representative Comments
Rintaro Shimatani, Toei Video Co., Ltd.
Buichi Terasawa-sensei can be called the father of digital manga production. Without his efforts, manga in our country might not have evolved to this extent. Precisely because we are a manga superpower, there is a possibility that even masterpieces could be buried under the flow of time. However, I feel that by being reborn into a new form, the possibilities expand, and we can surely reach people we couldn't reach before.
I would like to express my gratitude once again to the late Buichi Terasawa-sensei and Kosuke Kawamura for their cooperation. We will strive to deliver this to as many people as possible, transcending generations and borders.
Hiroto Munakata, Representative Director of TANGLE Co., Ltd.
We believe the ReVIBES Project is a redefinition of the current structure where IPs such as manga and anime are consumed and their value becomes fixed. While many works have been loved and cherished as mass entertainment, their value does not end there; they still hold hidden potential.
We launched this project with the goal of re-evaluating Japanese IPs from a modern perspective and presenting them as new value within a global context, not just in Japan. This is not a revival of IP, but a reconstruction of value, and a new attempt to connect Japanese pop culture to the world of art.
Through this project, we will position Japanese IPs—such as manga, anime, and games—as cultural assets and open their potential to the world.
(C)ReVIBES Project，BUICHI TERASAWA/ART TEKNIKA，KOSUKE KAWAMURA
List of images for this article
