What is needed is the power to create.
"Since tote bags are made of canvas, why not use them as canvases for painting?" This was the idea that led to the creation of " TOTE AS CANVAS ."
Tote bags. They may have once been "just a carrier bag" with a rugged canvas design for carrying things. ROOTOTE , a brand specializing in tote bags, was born from the idea that these simple, functional tote bags could provide more enjoyment and excitement.
Communicating that "it's just a carrier bag"
On to design.
In 2003, "Wouldn't it be fun if people walked around town wearing tote bags they had designed, turning the city into a gallery?" This simple idea led to the birth of "TOTE AS CANVAS." These tote bags allow people to enjoy expressing art in any way they like, using the plain tote bag itself as a canvas. In addition, the "TOTE AS CANVAS Art & Design Award" is held every year as a venue for showcasing these works. This innovative concept was highly praised as communication design, and in 2004 it won the "Good Design Award" sponsored by the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization.
BE AN ARTIST! Become an artist!
The Tote as Canvas Art & Design Awards is held every year as a forum for artists to showcase their artwork, created in various ways using the Tote as Canvas itself as a canvas. Since its launch in 2003, over several thousand works have been entered to date.
After a rigorous screening process by a panel of judges including photographer Shinpei Asai, the winning works were announced and an exhibition of the winning works was held on October 10th, exactly one year after applications began. Just like the message "BE AN ARTIST!" written on the packaging of the "Tote as Canvas," this is an art and design award that is open to anyone, regardless of age or whether they are professional or amateur.
Tote as Canvas Art & Design Award
1st Grand Prix Winner
I made a bag to hold my belongings and everyone's images.
The first Grand Prix winner was Mayuge's "empty-bag." The artist's comment that "I made this bag to hold my belongings and everyone's images" perfectly embodied the concept of Tote as Canvas. This work, which consists of only a frame, has the appeal to inspire the imagination (creativity) of the viewer.
ROOTOTE Tote as Canvas Art & Design Award
To be unconsciously engrossed in something.
As a child, if you had a white surface and crayons, you would immediately start doodling, but as an adult, you would struggle to decide what to draw. With Tote as Canvas, you can relive the feeling of being absorbed in something. No skill is required. All you need is creativity.
