A Must-See for Wedding Couples on “Koi no Shima: Kurima Island (Miyakojima City)!” A New Instagram-Worthy Spot Has Opened! - [Official] Okinawa Resort Wedding Association

~Wall Art × Greenery: Balancing Tourism Digital Transformation and Local Circular Economy~

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Creating a “New Instagram-Worthy Spot” on Kurima Island, a Mecca for Couples!

Apply for photo permits via QR code and explore the area with LINE coupons

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The Okinawa Resort Wedding Association (located in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture) held an event on Kurima Island in Miyakojima City,

As a new initiative to make couples' anniversary trips even more appealing,

We have launched the “Project to Develop Photo Spots That Showcase Art and Greenery” (Reiwa 7 Fiscal Year Project to Support the Creation of New Okinawa Tourism Services).

This utilizes the walls of the agricultural warehouse and combines wall art with planting.

This creates new shooting spots and introduces a system where photographers can apply for a photo shoot and make payments using a QR code.

It is also a tourism DX model that promotes tourism consumption within the region through LINE coupons, and that balances coexistence with residents and economic circulation.

This project will be implemented with funding from the Cabinet Office’s Reiwa 7 Fiscal Year Program to Support the Creation of New Okinawa Tourism Services.

Business Overview

Location: Kurama Island, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture

Details of the Implementation:

Fourteen artists from Japan and Taiwan have announced their participation. Two will be selected through a vote by residents and stakeholders.

Taiwan: Lin Shu-yi, Representative of Creative Infinity Art Studio
Japan: Atelier Bambi, Masato Hayashi, Representative

Two local agricultural warehouses were designated as warehouse wall surfaces.
The landscaping will be created by a design team comprising Worthpace LLC (Tokyo) and Toubaru Nouen (Naha City), who will collaborate on a project with the mural.
Installation of Signage for Photography Permits with QR Codes
Implement QR code payments and expand the online system for location filming applications. Publicize the system so that filming applications can be submitted.
Coupons and Information via the Official LINE Account

Concept

The new attraction is a spot that blends seamlessly into the local community in accordance with the Kurima Island Constitution.

A place where wedding couples can capture memories that will last a lifetime, and return to every year to reflect on how their journey together began.
We want people to understand that Kurima Island is an island we must all work together to protect and preserve for future generations.

We will develop new wedding photo spots to create tourism resources and build a sustainable tourism model in collaboration with local residents.

◆Artist Profile

1. Creative Infinity Art Studio (Taipei City) Representative: Mr. Lin Shu-yi (Xu-yi)

CEO of Sō Mugen Art Studio #artist

About Our Past Projects
・https://www.instagram.com/linshuyi0710?

Our thoughts on this initiative, and our enthusiasm and expectations for this event

On a previous trip to Okinawa as a tourist, I was deeply inspired and filled with admiration when I saw how the local people were incorporating mural art while making the most of their natural surroundings. I’ve always hoped that someday I’d have the opportunity to create my own artwork here.

Regarding this theme, we want to transform the local farm into a place that serves as a “church” where couples can take their first steps toward happiness. We hope this island will become an option for couples as they move on to the next stage of their lives. We don’t want it to be merely a “wedding destination”; rather, we want it to be a place where couples who visit can reflect on and truly appreciate the meaning of the marriage ceremony.

I hope the organizers will be open to working with me. My partner is also a fellow creator. Together, we hope to create experiences that will bring happiness to everyone who visits this island.

[Self-Introduction by Shu-yi Lin]
Sō Mugen Art Studio (Taipei City) Representative: Mr. Lin Shu-yi

Click here to watch Shu-Yi's video message

https://youtube.com/shorts/FtCKZZyZ5us?feature=share

My name is (Xu Yi). I'm 25 years old this year.

On behalf of “Sō Mugen Art Studio,” which I founded myself, I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to participate in the creation of a mural on Kurima Island in Okinawa.

First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone at the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association for inviting me to participate in this mural project and for their recognition of my work. I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to the staff members who provided tremendous support and cooperation throughout the creation process.

It is only thanks to your support that I am able to successfully complete my work. I am also grateful to Japan and Okinawa for providing Taiwanese artists with this opportunity. Being able to transcend national borders, present my work on an international stage, and have it seen by so many people is an incredibly valuable and special experience for me.

The philosophy behind my work is to convey a sense of “happiness” and “hope” to the island’s residents and visiting travelers. This mural is themed around the “sunset” and symbolizes warmth and a new beginning. I poured my heart into this piece, hoping that the light of the sunset, streaming down upon the bride and groom as they take their wedding photos, would signify new hope and blessings for the couple as they embark on this new stage of life—marriage. Furthermore, instead of a white dove, I depicted a wild bird native to Kurima Island, expressing my prayer that the happy couple will enjoy a long and harmonious life together.

In terms of composition, the entire piece is unified by an arc-shaped design, symbolizing “harmony” and “completeness.” I hope that, throughout the work, both the bride and groom and the viewers will feel the power of happiness and warmth.

Immediately after graduating from high school, I embarked on a career as a mural artist and have continued to work as a full-time artist ever since. In recent years, I have held a series of solo exhibitions and have been exploring a wider range of expressive possibilities. Being able to create this piece on Kurima Island marks a significant milestone for me.

Shu-Yi will arrive in Okinawa on October 1 and will be working there until October 9.

2. Atelier Bambi

Artist / Graphic Designer / Director / Event Planner

Focusing primarily on miniature painting, I am active in a wide range of creative fields, including graphic design, teaching design, and event planning. My life’s work is to turn what I truly love into my profession while sharing the joy and possibilities of creativity with society. I founded and operate “Share Atelier Bambi,” a coworking space and studio exclusively for creators, located a 7-minute walk from Kagase Station in Hyogo Prefecture. By creating a space where artists and creative individuals can gather and take on new challenges with peace of mind, I aim to realize “a world where art is part of everyday life.”

About Our Past Projects

・BIG MAC AWARD ART CONTEST 2013 [Finalist Award]

・RedBull Ignition 2013 [Finalist]

・Muraki Grocery Store Label Contest 2024 [Winner]

Your thoughts and enthusiasm regarding the theme:

Ever since I was a child, I have loved nature and living things, and I have continued to paint works featuring animals and plants. I draw a great deal of inspiration from their expressions, gestures, and the way they live, and have placed them at the center of my work for over 10 years. I am truly honored to have this opportunity to express my love for nature in this special place—Kurama Island—with its bountiful ocean and teeming life.

I feel a deep sense of joy and responsibility at being able to add my own touch of color to Miyako—a place I’ve long admired—and to create a mural that will become a cherished memory for visitors. I hope to create a gentle, warm piece where the island’s creatures come to life on the wall, breathing with vitality, and gently touch people’s hearts. I will pour my heart into this project so that I can create a mural that connects nature with people and people with one another.

Click here to watch Banbi's video message

Atelier Bambi

https://youtube.com/shorts/6WDmy7rqako?feature=share

Hello, everyone. My name is Bambi, and I work as an artist and designer based in the Kansai region. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the “Island of Love, Kurima Island” wall art project. The title of this mural is “Connecting to the Future.” I depicted the “sea turtle”—the main motif—on a large scale, symbolizing Kurima Island itself, and surrounded it with many of the creatures that inhabit the island. This mural is completed when a person stands in front of it, symbolizing the coexistence and harmony of the “island,” “creatures,” and “people.” I am creating this work with the hope of “connecting to the future” through the island’s abundant “nature,” the islanders’ “desire” to protect it, and the “love” of the couples and families standing here. Thank you for your support.

◆ Key Points to Watch in Tourism Digital Transformation (DX)

Diversifying Photography Spots and Improving Etiquette (Curbing Unannounced Photography)
Promoting Local Consumption Through Coupons and Collaboration with Businesses
Fostering a Desire to Return and Managing Customers Through LINE Registration