Nouns x Origami Art: Dissolving Borders from Japan to the United Nations HQ
tl;dr Funding $42,339 to place Nouns within universities and hospitals as a larger part of a United Nations initiative. We are pursuing additional funding including Art Council in Japan, which could considerably reduce this budget proposed by 50%+
1. The Mission: United Nations HQ & France 2026
Our goal is to take a grassroots movement born in a local Japanese community and scale it onto the most significant stages in the world. We are carrying the dreams and "proofs of existence" of children in Shizuoka to:
- The United Nations HQ (NYC): A large-scale exhibition to prove that Nouns is a symbol of global peace, inclusivity, and the power of individual voices.
- France (Paris/Poitiers): Collaborative workshops in European Univercity and gallery communities, expanding our circle of co-creation across the continent.
2. Our Method: Breaking "Boundaries" through Origami Art
To achieve this mission, we use a unique form of "Origami Art." This is not about the traditional craft of folding paper; it is about using 15cm square papers as canvases where individuals draw their dreams, messages, and identities. We then connect thousands of these individual squares to create a massive, unified mosaic artwork.
The Impact of Our Method:
- Children's Hospital (Kirara Class): We collaborate with children in hospital schools who are physically isolated due to long-term illness. When their art, adorned with Noggles (Nouns glasses), is integrated into a global mosaic, it becomes their "wings" to fly beyond the hospital walls.
- Elementary Schools & Global Friends: Last year, a Costa Rican artist joined students at Denbo Elementary School in Fuji City. Despite the language barrier, they created art together on these small squares, naturally dissolving the psychological walls between "local" and "global."
We want to tell these children: "No matter where you are or what your condition is, you can connect with the world if you have friends."
Article of Newspaper https://news.at-s.com/article/1811168
3. The Origin: A Challenge Born from a Small Studio
This mission is rooted in a journey that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a small studio in Shizuoka, while the physical world was locked down, we discovered the pioneering power of the internet and Web3 (Nouns) to nurture encounters across borders.
Even while physically confined, we took a leap into the unknown. By continuously sharing our thoughts and artworks from our studio in Numazu and public spaces like CCC (The Center for Creative Communications) in Shizuoka, we earned the trust and empathy of people across the ocean. The "Origami Art" that started in a local studio has now grown into this miraculous opportunity to exhibit at the United Nations.
4. Our Team: Multinational Solidarity Bound by "Aspiration"
This project is a testament to the fact that "aspiration" transcends ability and language. We are a team of friends who met through audio-based social spaces (X Spaces) and share a common dream.
- A translator in Kansai who supports us because we are not fluent in English.
- Friends in the US, France, and Costa Rica who gather under the motto: "Let's share the same dream."
Our teammates are more than "helpers"; they are core members who find joy in the act of co-creation. This multinational solidarity transcending language, borders, and physical distance is the very essence of what it means to be "Nounish."
5. Detailed Mission Budget (USDC)
To execute these large-scale international exhibitions and direct on-site workshops, we require the following operational budget (1 USD = 156.38 JPY).
- Team Contribution: We will allocate 0.4 stETH (approx. 1,300 USDC) a portion of the 1.03 stETH retro-grant received from LilNouns for our previous mural production directly into this project's budget. This demonstrates our commitment to maximizing the impact of this mission through reinvestment.
Phase 1: NYC & UN Exhibition Activation (26,181 USDC)
| Item | Details | Amount (USDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mobilization | Specialized team deployment from Japan to NYC (3 members) | 4,220 |
| On-site Activation Base | 11-day field operations, coordination, and installation residency | 4,923 |
| Intl. Logistics & Ops | International art shipping (JP to NY) and on-site transport | 1,918 |
| UN Exhibition Production | Display materials, printing, and Noggles mosaic art | 2,558 |
| Project Execution | Adjusted fee for 3 core members (Lead, Art, Strategy) | 5,463 |
| Media Production & Dev | Documentary filmmaking, exhibition website, and PR assets | 5,755 |
| Mandatory Operations | Insurance, administration, and essential processing fees | 1,344 |
| Subtotal | 26,181 |
Phase 2: France & Europe Collaboration (17,458 USDC)
| Item | Details | Amount (USDC) |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mobilization | Specialized team deployment from Japan to France (3 members) | 4,220 |
| On-site Activation Base | 9-day field operations and regional residency (Paris/Poitiers) | 3,453 |
| Regional Logistics | EU regional rail (TGV) and site-to-site art transport | 1,279 |
| Workshop Production | Professional materials and Noggles mosaic art | 1,279 |
| Project Execution | Adjusted fee for 3 core members | 5,812 |
| Mandatory Operations | Insurance, administration, and essential processing fees | 1,415 |
| Subtotal | 17,458 |
Total Request: 42,339 USDC
"ROADMAP"
6. Conclusion: Turning Isolation into Pride
Through this project, we aim to transform "isolation" into "pride." When a child in a hospital bed sees their drawing at the United Nations, the world changes for them. By integrating Nouns into this journey, we establish Noggles as a global icon of hope and creativity.
"Doing what we can, with those we trust." Join us in dissolving the borders of the world.
