[Art × Tech] The New World of Art Collecting that between the arts (Bijutsu Souko) Aims For

between the arts

Japan’s first art collection management service「between the arts」, whose warehouse-cum-office I visited.
*The service name has now been changed to “Bijutsu Souko (Art Warehouse).”

「between the arts」 is Japan’s first service where you can organize your art collection in the cloud for free, and manage artworks you can’t store at home for ¥1,000 per work per month.

The warehouse-cum-office scene of between the arts

The one who launched the service is Takatoshi Oshiro, who is also an art collector. He has already entrusted his own collection, and the warehouse is operated with airtight security and thorough temperature and humidity control.

A management memo posted in the warehouse

Takatoshi Oshiro's art collection (part) displayed in the office — Takatoshi Oshiro’s art collection (part) displayed in the office

The service started in July 2020. To date, about 200 works are managed in the warehouse.

Some of the works managed in the warehouse

They aren’t yet doing active advertising, and few collectors have entrusted works, but while running it they’re apparently expanding and reviewing the service content.

Works that can be entrusted are limited to small works up to size-120 flat works.

More small works than initially expected are being entrusted, apparently, and a review of the current pricing set at ¥1,000 per month for one work is also apparently planned.

What caught my attention was the service for managing your own collection on the web.
This service can be used by anyone for free if you create an account.

Part of the "between the arts" site screen — Part of the “between the arts” site screen

Collectors can register their collection images and information together and make them public.
Alternatively, keeping it private, it can be used as a collection-management tool just for yourself.

Also, works entrusted to the warehouse are linked to a rental-painting service mainly for corporations, and can be lent out at an amount the user sets arbitrarily.
This leads to a development where works reach the general public, from the closed hands of collectors. *Works are rented after being acrylic-framed.

And in the future, they apparently envision things like buying and selling works among registered members.
Keep an eye on “between the arts,” a platform drawing attention as a new form of art × technology!