At a special showcase event in Neopasa Hamamatsu in Japan last weekend, a one-of-a-kind digital grand piano, wrapped in artwork by Paralym Art artist Ms. Michiru Kanki, took centre stage. In a collaboration with event sponsor Roland Corporation, Roland DG equipment was used to print the wrap for the piano and piano bench, the canvas backdrop and even commemorative stickers for the event.
The wrap for the Paralym Art exhibition's grand piano and bench was reproduced using Roland DG’s TrueVIS XG-640 wide-format inkjet printer
‘Paralym Art’ is an initiative established by the Japan Organization for the Promotion of Independence of Persons with Disabilities, ‘to contribute to the economic independence and social participation of artists with disabilities’. It has been sponsored since 2021 by Roland Corporation, who commissioned Kanki for this year’s event knowing that she is active in fields ranging from music to graphics production. Her piece for this event – ‘Ad-lib’ - was created under the general event theme, which explored The Future Brought by Music and Instruments and the wrap for the grand piano and bench was reproduced using Roland DG’s TrueVIS XG-640 wide-format inkjet printer.
Kohei Tanabe, CEO, President, and Representative Director of Roland DG, says: “The TrueVIS XG-640 was really able to bring out the brilliant colours and the full appeal of Ms. Kanki’s artwork, including the passion and story embedded within it. Through this collaboration with Roland Corporation, we wanted to convey to people the wonder of transforming imagination into reality.”
The Piano Bench also featured graphics printed directly onto an ethical synthetic ‘Sobagni’ leather using a Roland DG VersaOBJECT large-format direct-to-object printer and a VersaSTUDIO BN2-20 inkjet printer was used to print special, limited edition commemorative stickers.
As well as playing the piano itself, visitors were also invited to enjoy a special, embossed, tactile art canvas, reproducing Kanki’s work. The canvas was printed with Roland DG’s unique DIMENSE dimensional printing technology and Kanki said: “’I used orange as a base to evoke infinite joy and fun, balancing it with emerald, blue, and other colours to capture the freedom, hope, style, and gentleness of music. It is hugely important for me to know that the technology used to print these colours and textures, offers a genuine reproduction of the artistic intent.”
