The theme of Connected Ink 2023 is 'Back to the Forest.' The event began with our CEO Nobu Ide sharing his experiences of the time he spent in the forests of Kyoto in Japan.

While learning about the ecosystem of the forest, Nobu realized that there is an intelligence that resides within it, and sensed the presence of a vast living entity. It seemed to him that this living entity is driven by two natural principles: 'to multiply' and 'to pass on.' Could it be that the forest lives and grows by following these principles intelligently? At the same time, Nobu wondered if our own society follows the same pattern. He then posed the question, 'What about humans?' Are humans, as living beings, also governed by an eternal cycle of growth and inheritance?

Exploring his thoughts more deeply, Nobu concluded that the answer was no – because humans have another natural driver – the urge to create. In other words, even if we choose not to contribute to growth and inheritance, even if we step away from productivity and efficiency, we continue to create.

In other words, in a living entity like a forest, creation could be considered a useless bug. But deep inside, creativity excites us as humans. It's a bug that is precious, beautiful, and dear to us.

To create—this is the noble bug that humans possess.

In November 2023, Connected Ink gave us the opportunity to gather our community together and share our memories of returning to the forest of Creative Chaos.

*Connected Ink is an event that has been organized by Wacom since 2016 with the quest to explore new directions in art, human expression, learning and the technologies that support them. The theme is always focused on the topic of Creative Chaos while defining different key questions during each event started in 2020.

Nurturing the Forest of Knowledge Together (Z-Kai Group / Wacom)
Since our collaboration in 2021 to develop a dedicated tablet for Z-Kai, the Z-Kai Group and Wacom have continued to announce new services at each year's Connected Ink event. At Connected Ink 2023, they introduced three key features related to the "Back to the Forest," theme, using two specific examples: 1) The "Knowledge Graph," which visualizes information relationships in a graph structure using WILL™ (Wacom Ink Layer Language), and 2) "Chienowa," a search tool that goes beyond rote memorization to facilitate deeper learning.

The first feature focuses on "Interconnected Knowledge." Through "Chienowa," which enhances understanding by showing the relationships between information, users can experience the organic connection between parts and the whole—offering a "seeing the forest through the trees" learning experience.

The second feature is "Diversity of Knowledge." Just as the forest supports a variety of life, this feature reflects the diversity of knowledge that transcends traditional academic boundaries.

The third feature is "Imaginative Knowledge." Aligned with Z-Kai Group's mission to deliver the best possible education experience, the focus is not only on finding the right answers but also on how students can apply what they’ve learned, emphasizing imagination. This session expressed our shared desire to nurture a forest of knowledge that stimulates both the intellect and imagination through the learning experience.

Deepening KISEKI ART 2023 Through the Artwork "Forest"
Since 2021, KISEKI ART has been updated annually and in 2023, we showcased its evolution using the artwork "Forest", created by illustrator ktym.

From the creative log recorded in CLIP STUDIO PAINT, we extracted six types of information from nearly 17,000 strokes: pen pressure, the number of undos, the number of tool changes, the number of color changes, the status of the pen (whether it is lifted or in contact with the screen), and speed. By focusing on areas where significant changes occurred, we identified psychological changes in the creator that had taken place during the creative process, but which were not apparent at the time of creation.

KISEKI ART highlights the changes in the creative process during the development of the artwork, but also identifies the emotional transformations taking place within the creator during the drawing process.

VR Art Expression Using KISEKI Data: "Back to the Forest of Metamorphosis"
The VRChat world "Metamorphosis" was also launched alongside Connected Ink 2023. This VR space that encapsulated the theme of "Back to the Forest of Metamorphosis," replaces the features of creation with living beings, allowing users to enjoy a world that combines KISEKI ART with artificial life.

Within this world, users can view digital artworks created by artists on a large scale, alongside artificial life forms that are reinterpreted and generated based on the characteristics of each pen stroke.

These artificial beings are automatically generated from the feature data contained in the strokes and gather around a central sphere within the world. At the booth, we provided an experience where KISEKI ART strokes come to life, expanding into a forest-like environment.

High School Students Reflect on "Back to the Forest" Through Creation
In this session, students from Hamamatsu Gakugei High School and Saitama Prefectural Omiya Koryo High School showcased unique works created to reflect the "Back to the Forest" theme.

Hamamatsu Gakugei High School created a video work interpreting "Back to the Forest" as "blending in." Inspired by the image of the forest as a warm and safe place, they chose to create a work themed around picture books. The students visited a forest together and aimed to capture and express the sense of childlike wonder and sincerity that emerged when they connected with their primeval selves, reflecting on the feelings that nature evokes.

Omiya Koryo High School showcased a large-scale work created in collaboration with artist Kazuki Umezawa, a graduate of the same school. A large number of students from across the fine arts, music, and Japanese calligraphy departments participated in this project. For some students, this was their first experience working with a display tablet, as they typically create their work in analog formats.

This project was named the "Pen Tablet Art Project" and focused on the theme of "circulation" using the forest as its subject. The creation process crossed the boundaries between digital and analog mediums. Students presented their works to one another, drawing inspiration from these exchanges to repeatedly refine their creations. They then completed their pieces by collaging and painting. The final work encapsulated the unique characteristics of each department, incorporating sheet music, paintings, and Japanese calligraphy.

What sounds, lights, scents, and whispers fill this place?
And once again, we emerge from here. What lies beyond the forest?
At the closing session of Connected Ink 2023, a letter from the forest was delivered to every participant by Takashi Itagaki, the art director of the Lumbini Art Museum, and artist Satoru Kobayashi. The letters were individually hand-printed using the mimeographed printing method. Accompanying the message, "What have humans forgotten since they left the forest?" the letter concludes with, "Welcome back, to a new journey."

What did "Back to the Forest" mean? Is there something visible beyond it?

The theme for Connected Ink 2024 is "Ordinary Life." After going back to the forest, it’s time to for us to dive into the world of the ordinary with our thriving community.