August 1, 2023｜Written by Rakutou 樂鬪

As internet technology continues to mature, digital images and related forms of art have become an increasingly familiar part of everyday life. In the online world, people can easily encounter all kinds of digital artworks. Amid such an overwhelming wave of information, the original intention and goal of the Rakutou team is to create experiences that are both distinctive and meaningful.

Rakutou serves as a bridge between the Web3 and physical industries. Through diversified customized services and exhibition planning, Rakutou explores how virtual-world assets can be applied and commercialized in the real world. Its core value is inspired by Rakuichi Rakuza, an economic policy from Japan’s Sengoku period. The word “Raku” represents liberalization: transferring specialized expertise that was once confined to specific fields into new contexts, and building cross-disciplinary business models through an open framework.

「Rakutou 樂鬪」於2023年成立，由多位各領域的專業人士共同創辦，迄今已舉辦了四場國內外的展覽，分別於台北、台中、東京、紐約，以各種不同的形式展出。展覽的核心概念當屬「樂」的核心價值「自由化」，與Web3藍籌項目「CloneX」的台灣社群合作，將藝術的元素帶進Web3社群中。「CloneX」曾與日本當代藝術大師村上隆聯名，以高自由度的二次創作空間聞名，使持有者不論是在虛擬或現實中都能夠徹底展現個人的創作特質，並且能夠自由地做商業上的使用，進而打造個人角色IP品牌。「Rakutou 樂鬪」團隊也秉持著自由創作的信念，聯手打造出「樂鬪宇宙」，以復古格鬥遊戲「Rakutou Rule No.1」為主，衍生出一系列的創作作品。藝術家潘奕丞P.Y.C.作為首席藝術總監，以他獨特的風格，將Web3世界的角色與週邊配件融入在各種創作之中，包括平面繪畫作品、數位AR互動藝術、原創設計服飾、原創復古格鬥遊戲和漫畫等。這些作品都展現了P.Y.C.獨特的風格和創造力，以及「Rakutou 樂鬪」對於Web3的藝術自由創作與多元結合。Founded in 2023, Rakutou was co-created by professionals from various fields. To date, the team has organized four exhibitions in Taiwan and abroad, taking place in Taipei, Taichung, Tokyo, and New York, each presented in different formats. The central concept of these exhibitions lies in Rakutou’s core value of “liberalization.” By collaborating with the Taiwan community of the Web3 blue-chip project CloneX, Rakutou brings artistic elements into the Web3 community.

CloneX has previously collaborated with Japanese contemporary art master Takashi Murakami and is known for offering a high degree of freedom for derivative creation. This allows holders to fully express their individual creative identity, whether in virtual or physical spaces, while also enabling free commercial use and the development of personal character IP brands.

Upholding the belief in free creation, the Rakutou team has jointly developed the “Rakutou Universe.” Centered around the original retro fighting game Rakutou Rule No.1, this universe has expanded into a series of creative works. Artist Pan Yi-Cheng, also known as P.Y.C., serves as the Chief Art Director. Through his distinctive style, he incorporates characters and peripheral accessories from the Web3 world into various forms of creation, including paintings, digital AR interactive artworks, original designer apparel, an original retro fighting game, and comics. These works showcase P.Y.C.’s unique style and creativity, as well as Rakutou’s commitment to artistic freedom and diverse integration within the Web3 landscape.

Rakutou aims to redefine the gaming world and experiential possibilities of Web3 communities. In the future, the team plans to open participation to more Web3 projects, bringing virtual-world collectibles into reality and enabling NFT holders around the world to engage in more interesting forms of interaction and exchange.

This year, Rakutou also collaborated with DMKTZ, a Web3 3D fashion co-creation platform, and jointly participated in its Beta Launch event in New York. The event attracted enthusiastic participation from designers, creators, and artists across various fields.

DMKTZ combines digital and physical elements to create a Phygital 3D fashion experience. The platform significantly simplifies the 3D creation process, allowing fashion enthusiasts from around the world to participate with ease. Through simple functions such as clicking and image uploading, users can collaboratively create their own digital garments, which can then be seamlessly integrated into games and the metaverse, worn by virtual characters. These exclusive designs can also be produced as physical garments, perfectly demonstrating the Phygital experience of merging the digital with the physical.

Through the flexibility and practicality of the DMKTZ platform, Rakutou integrates its distinctive artistic style with the fashion industry. The 3D garments created on DMKTZ can be smoothly worn by game characters, opening a new chapter in the fusion of art and fashion. This collaboration made its first appearance on a large screen in Times Square, New York, drawing significant attention.

The Rakutou team believes that the Web3 world ultimately belongs to creators. Only by bringing together these creative and passionate communities can a richer and more diverse vision and worldview be developed. Looking ahead, Rakutou aims to become a meaningful and valuable platform for exchange, allowing more people to understand the connections and operations within Web3 communities and to participate in this exciting artistic ecosystem.

Link：
非池中： https://artemperor.tw/focus/5557
民視新聞網： https://www.ftvnews.com.tw/news/detail/2023418W0252/amp